13/02/2006
Government identifies marine high risk pollution areas
The Government have identified 32 locations around the UK coast as areas at high risk from pollution from commercial shipping.
The introduction of Marine Environmental High Risk Areas MEHRAs follows recommendations made by the late Lord Donaldson in his report Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas following the Braer tanker disaster off the Shetland Islands in January 1993. He said that their primary purpose was "... to inform [ships'] Masters of areas where there is a real prospect of a problem arising."
The locations of MEHRAs have been identified after taking into account shipping risk, environmental sensitivity and other environmental protection measures already in place at each location.
Unveiling the locations Transport Secretary Alistair Darling Darling said: "The Government has looked very carefully at every part of the UK coastline and assessed the potential impact of commercial shipping on the local environment. As a result, we have identified 32 locations around the UK that should be given MEHRA protection.
"MEHRAs will be an essential aid to passage planning since their primary purpose is to inform ships' masters of areas where they need to exercise even more caution than usual. This is just part of the information available to mariners to enable them to navigate UK waters safely."
MEHRAs will now be notified by a Marine Guidance Note to mariners who will be expected to exercise an even higher degree of care than usual when passing through them. They will also be marked on Admiralty charts.
Mr Darling made the announcement in a written statement to Parliament.
(SP)
The introduction of Marine Environmental High Risk Areas MEHRAs follows recommendations made by the late Lord Donaldson in his report Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas following the Braer tanker disaster off the Shetland Islands in January 1993. He said that their primary purpose was "... to inform [ships'] Masters of areas where there is a real prospect of a problem arising."
The locations of MEHRAs have been identified after taking into account shipping risk, environmental sensitivity and other environmental protection measures already in place at each location.
Unveiling the locations Transport Secretary Alistair Darling Darling said: "The Government has looked very carefully at every part of the UK coastline and assessed the potential impact of commercial shipping on the local environment. As a result, we have identified 32 locations around the UK that should be given MEHRA protection.
"MEHRAs will be an essential aid to passage planning since their primary purpose is to inform ships' masters of areas where they need to exercise even more caution than usual. This is just part of the information available to mariners to enable them to navigate UK waters safely."
MEHRAs will now be notified by a Marine Guidance Note to mariners who will be expected to exercise an even higher degree of care than usual when passing through them. They will also be marked on Admiralty charts.
Mr Darling made the announcement in a written statement to Parliament.
(SP)
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20 December 2007
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08 June 2004
Venus transit visible in many areas of UK
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19 July 2012
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be rather cloudy with scattered sleet and snow showers but mostly rain near the North coast. Feeling bitterly cold in fresh or strong northerly wind. Maximum temperature 4 °C.Tonight:Clear intervals and wintry showers, most frequent in the north but mostly of rain along the North Coast. A cold night with risk of icy stretches. Minimum temperature -1 °C.