Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the written answer of 6 November 2018 to Question 185578 on Ferries: Registration, what the Maritime and Coastguard Agency-agreed safe crewing level is on each roll-on roll-off ferry on the (a) UK and (b) Red Ensign registers.

In terms of roll-on roll-off ferries registered in:

(a) The UK, the Regulations require all registered seagoing vessels to hold a Safe Manning Document issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). This document specifies the minimum crewing/manning levels. All vessels must be adequately manned for their safe operation, with due regard for the nature of their operation and their location.

The MCA ensures that all roll-on roll-off ferries are correctly and safely manned from a combination of factors determined by the safe manning levels needed to deal with any potential emergency on that vessel as required by the relevant international regulations. The preparedness of the crew is tested by means of a physical drill witnessed by MCA Marine Surveyors.

(b) The non-UK Red Ensign registers, the MCA is not directly responsible for agreeing the safe crewing levels. Responsibility and obligation under the international conventions have been extended to the Governments of the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. As part of the UK Flag State, they are required to follow the same levels and policy as per the UK requirements.