An MP highlighted the difficulties involved in investigating incidents on ships flying flags of convenience in the House of Commons yesterday, criticising the “appalling record” of some governments to look into them properly.
Stephen Mosley, MP for the City of Chester, told the House that last year someone from his constituency, Rebecca Coriam, went missing from a Bahamas-registered Disney cruise ship off the coast of Mexico.
“The Bahamas authorities have apparently conducted an investigation and provided a summary to Cheshire police but, despite assurances given to me personally by the high commissioner, they have not granted the police permission to release it to Rebecca’s family,” said Mosley.
“May we have a debate on the appalling record of some governments to investigate thoroughly and openly incidents on ships flying flags of convenience?”
Andrew Lansley, leader of the House of Commons, responded by saying that as the ship in question was off the Mexican coast, Foreign and Commonwealth Office consular staff have been “actively pursuing” the initial police report from the Mexican authorities and are in contact with the family, Cheshire police and relevant local authorities.
Lansley said he would raise the issue of ships flying flags of convenience with colleagues at the Department for Transport.
The comments follow criticism made by Channel 4’s Dispatches programme of ships flying flags of convenience to get around the labour laws of some countries.