What is the policy to inspect all charter and fishing vessels, and number of both types of vessels on the register? Are skippers and crews are fully certified in safety, survival, first aid and fire fighting and time of re-evaluation and training programm

2.8  The Deputy of St. John of the Minister for Economic Development regarding the registration and staffing of charter and fishing vessels:

Could Members have details of the policy within Harbours to inspect all charter and fishing vessels, giving the number of both types of vessels on the register? Would the Minister advise whether skippers hold certificates of competence and crews are fully certified in safety, survival at sea, first aid and fire fighting and give details of how often they are re-evaluated and whether a training programme is still available?

Senator A.J.H. Maclean (The Minister for Economic Development):

Jersey Harbours' policy is to follow the inspection regimes laid down within the applicable legislation as appropriate to the particular type of vessel. There are 16 commercial charter vessels operating locally. These are inspected and surveyed annually by Jersey Harbours. All skippers must hold a boat masters licence which

includes the requirement to hold an RYA commercially-endorsed certificate of

competency, including sea survival and first aid training. These are inspected by Jersey Harbours every 5 years in line with the expiry dates for RYA commercially- endorsed certificates. There are 6 fishing vessels over 12 metres operated from the Jersey register, only one of which is operated locally. All are inspected and certified by Mecal. There are 163 fishing vessels under 12 metres operated locally. There is a mandatory survey regime for these vessels to undergo an inspection. All fishing vessels are required to hold the appropriate safety training as detailed in legislation; however, there is no inspection regime prescribed. It is policy to act when report has been received of an incident requiring investigation. As enforcer of legislation Jersey Harbours does not provide training. Some has been arranged through the Fishermen's Association and in the past Jersey Harbours has helped identify and facilitate appropriate courses.

1. The Deputy of St. John :

Of the boats, how many are operating without a current safety inspectors certificate and please give reasons why the vessels have not been inspected? Does the Minister think that at the start of winter it is acceptable for vessels to be putting out to sea without a current certificate, putting lives of crew at risk?

Senator A.J.H. Maclean:

I am afraid I am not familiar with the figures to hand but I am happy to supply them to the Deputy in due course in terms of the numbers. With regard to safety I can assure the Deputy that my department, and in particular Jersey Harbours, would take matters of safety as the utmost importance. If there are any cases that the Deputy is particularly concerned about then I would certainly like to hear about them and would ensure that they are investigated appropriately.

2. The Deputy of St. John :

Could I have a supplementary to that? Given that the Minister has been in charge of ports for 4 years, has he not taken an interest in safety at sea and our Jersey fishermen? Given that some weeks ago we invited him or his Assistant Minister to attend a meeting and they failed to attend - which has now been rescheduled for later this week; I sincerely hope he will confirm that he will attend - but will he also confirm that it is mandatory for skippers to be certified and those certificates have to be ... the vessels also have to be checked annually, and why they have not been ... some of them have not been certified so far this year?

Senator A.J.H. Maclean:

The Deputy is absolutely right with regard to safety matters and both I and my department take very seriously matters of safety. That is one of the reasons why we have been progressing S.O.L.A.S. (Safety of Life at Sea) and I have to remind the Deputy that I do recall that he was the one who has raised objections in the past to our progression of S.O.L.A.S and I find that quite an interesting and contrary position to have taken. As far as the other matters are concerned - the meeting that the Deputy referred to - we have discussed this at a previous meeting. I was not aware in advance that the meeting was taking place. There was a question of conflict. The meeting was concerning matters that are under investigation; however, I have agreed together with my Assistant Minister that we will attend a meeting if it is dealt with and treated in confidence until the investigation is complete.

The Deputy Bailiff :

No one else is showing any interest in this question, Deputy , so this is your last question.

3. The Deputy of St. John :

Given that the Minister has mentioned S.O.L.A.S., the reason I could not support some of it, and he is well aware and Members are well aware, some areas in fact put Jersey out on a limb to the remainder of the U.K. (United Kingdom) with relation to that particular law. That is the reason. But that said, he also mentioned ... what else did he mention?

The Deputy Bailiff :

Is there a question coming, Deputy ?

The Deputy of St. John :

I am coming to it, Sir. I am trying to think what it was. The Deputy Bailiff :

You had better think fast.

The Deputy of St. John :

I will do my best but I have not had my 5 minutes like most of the other Members have had. But that said, I do have concerns that the Minister is not really up to speed

with what is actually going on within his department. I ask him and his Assistant

Minister to do so because it will be too late when we lose another fisherman. The Deputy Bailiff :

Is there a question there?

The Deputy of St. John :

Will he get up to speed?

Senator A.J.H. Maclean:

I do consider both and I and my department are very much up to speed. Matters of safety are of the utmost importance. We will continue to attend upon such matters. With regard to S.O.L.A.S., just a quick point: that is an important area, safety of life at sea. To suggest that we were putting ourselves out on a limb, I think the Deputy said what we were doing was making Jersey regulations tighter than the U.K. and therefore hopefully safer.

The Deputy Bailiff :

Deputy Power has a question to ask of the Minister for Transport and Technical Services.