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  Red Ensign ‘in decline’, MP warns
  

IMAGE: The Red Ensign

Commenting on the National Audit Office report into the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s response to increases in the size of the UK merchant fleet, South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon, a member of the Commons public accounts committee, said:

“For many years, the Red Ensign has symbolised quality and safety at sea, as well as strict compliance with international shipping standards.  Sadly, the advantage offered by the Red Ensign is now being whittled away”.
The Red Ensign flies from UK-flagged
merchant ships


“There are three main reasons for this decline. Our competitors have raised their game.  It is also getting harder to recruit skilled mariners.  Furthermore, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is failing to meet its inspection targets, which makes it harder to detect those ships in UK waters which are dangerous to their crews, to other vessels or to the environment.”

“Britain is a seafaring nation.  The Red Ensign should continue to represent the highest standards in international shipping and the government must not allow its value to be eroded any further.  The Maritime and Coastguard Agency should take the action needed to ensure that its inspection targets are met in future.”  

11 February 2009
 

See also:
NAO REPORT: Growth in the UK Merchant Fleet
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© Richard Bacon 2010