WIREDGOV

MCA welcomes NAO report

MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (31/09) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 11 February 2009

The publication from the National Audit Office (NAO) of its Report into the growth of the UK merchant fleet, and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency's (MCA) response to that significant increase, was welcomed this morning by the Agency's Chief Executive, Peter Cardy.

He said, overall, the Report had identified the Agency's achievement in supporting the growth of the merchant fleet without significant extra resources, an efficient use of taxpayer's money.

He also welcomed the NAO's Report as adding to the evidence that the Agency had succeeded in the task set ten years ago by Government in the maritime plan 'Charting A New Course', and how the United Kingdom Ship Register (UKSR) was now much improved.

The Report focuses on how the MCA has responded to the Government drive to increase the growth in UK registered merchant shipping fleet whilst continuing to assure the quality of the UK flag.

The NAO also found that, as the size of the fleet increased, the Agency used staff resources more efficiently, and that it had maintained the quality of the UK flag in terms of the accident rate for UK merchant ships and the proportion of UK ships detained overseas.

Among other strengths the Report found that

* The Agency's survey and inspection work has increased 33% between 1999/2000 (2,683) and 2007/2008 (3,902).

* Because over half the UK fleet did not visit a UK port in 2007 marine surveyors inspected around 450 UK flagged vessels abroad.

* Growth of the UK merchant fleet has also led to an increase in the number of certificates issued to seafaring officers from 6,400 in 2003/2004 to 7,700 in 2007/2008.

Peter Cardy said

"Rightly, the NAO Report also drew our attention to increased workloads and surveyor shortages which will mean that the Agency needs to improve its planning of work and resources.

"We missed some of our targets for inspections of UK and foreign ships for the first time in 2007-08 and will do so again in 2008-09. This is a direct result of the difficulties in finding and retaining the people with the right skills and the competition for experienced maritime surveyors. We have plans to improve our recruitment."

Mr Cardy concluded

"In difficult and challenging economic times, the Agency, like many other organisations, will find it difficult to make long term predictions and plans. Our aim will be to remain flexible and adaptable to changes in the shipping industry, while still leading globally in customer focus and service."

Notes for Editors
1. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. It is responsible throughout the UK for implementing the UK government's maritime safety and environmental protection policy. One of the Agency's main roles is to maintain the safety, security and environmental standards of commercial vessels flying the UK flag (the "flag state" function), and of foreign vessels visiting UK ports and waters (the "port state" function), and the safety of seafarers serving on those vessels.

2. Surveys. Under international maritime law all vessels are required to hold relevant, up to date safety certificates. Surveys are periodic and mandatory and are undertaken either by the Agency's surveyors or a recognised Classification Society prior to issuing or renewing certificates. They cover specific items such as construction, equipment or operations on board a ship.
Inspections. Inspections are selective and cover the whole vessel rather than specific areas. They are carried out to check that the conditions under which a vessel's certificates were issued still hold. The Agency's marine surveyors carry out general inspections and they are not delegated to classification societies.

3. NAO press notices and reports are available from the date of publication on the NAO website, which is at http://www.nao.org.uk. Hard copies can be obtained from The Stationery Office on 0845 702 3474.

For further information please contact
Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office, on: (023) 8032 9401

Press releases and further information about the Agency is available on the Web at http://www.mcga.gov.uk