Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what arrangements are in place for the rescue of ships carrying nuclear materials from British ports that run into operational difficulties off the coast of the UK; and whether any ports are designated safe havens for such vessels.

The principles for responding to shipping casualties are set out in the National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations (NCP) Chapter 9 - Establishing the Level of Response. Following initial and continuous risk assessment of each incident as it evolves, additional response activities will be applied to meet the prevailing circumstance. A Hazardous Cargo Advisor provides technical support and advice, and would be involved in the event of any incident involving hazardous cargo (inclusive of nuclear waste cargoes). The Hazardous Cargo Advisor does not formulate cargo-type specific response plans.

The UK does not have pre-designated Places of Refuge. If a vessel in need of assistance requires the identification of a Place of Refuge, a case by case assessment is made at the time, taking account of the circumstances of the casualty vessel, its cargo, the impact that it might have on the chosen refuge location and the requirements of any extended recovery effort.