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Caledonian MacBrayne support MCA action
on undeclared dangerous goods
Back
20 April 2004
Ferry company Caledonian MacBrayne is advising all hauliers who use their
services that they will fully support any action taken by the MCA when pursuing
hauliers who may be carrying undeclared dangerous goods.
CalMac was reacting this afternoon to the sentencing of Barra-based hauliers
Barratlantic Ltd, which was fined £5,000 at Oban Sherriff Court.
Barratlantic had pleaded guilty to two charges relating to a failure to declare
dangerous goods which were being shipped from Oban to the
Island of
Barra.
On the November 19,
2002, Barratlantic presented a curtained-sided vehicle for shipment
between Oban and Barra. During a routine inspection by officers of the Maritime
and Coastguard Agency (MCA), accompanied by Strathclyde Police, the vehicle was
found to contain 67 undeclared Propane and Butane gas cylinders. The total
quantity of undeclared gas was 1068 Kg.
The unplacarded vehicle was waiting in the queue to join the late afternoon
ferry when the inspectors asked for the curtain to be opened. The gas cylinders
were found loosely stowed between general goods and building materials.
Propane and Butane gas cylinders are banned from being carried on passenger
ships, but because of supply consideration to the islands, procedures are in
place to allow the carriage of these banned dangerous goods subject to them
being declared to the Ferry Operator 24 hours before departure, so that
appropriate safety procedures can be put in place before the vessel sails.
A spokesman for CalMac said: “We share the concern of the court and the MCA.
These charges are extremely serious involving a serious risk to the public and,
obviously, the passengers and crew of the ferry. The maximum penalty which
the law allows is £5,000 on each charge making a total of £10,000. The
fact that the Sherriff has imposed a fine of £5,000 should be a warning to
everyone that shipment of undeclared goods will not be tolerated.”
“CalMac is extremely concerned that any haulier would place the safety of
passengers and crew on any Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry at risk. We hope that the
outcome reminds all hauliers of the importance of their responsibility to
declare to port staff when dangerous goods are to be transported on our
ships.”
ends
For further information on the contents of this News Release, please
contact Hugh Dan MacLennan, Public Affairs Manager, Caledonian
MacBrayne. Tel: 0776 435 4021; e-mail hugh.maclennan@calmac.co.uk; or
Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office: (023) 8032
9401
Issued: Tuesday,
April 20, 2004 : 1600
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Caledonian MacBrayne and CalMac are trading names of CalMac Ferries Limited (SC302282)