PFD report

Darren Wakefield · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 22 Jan 2016•Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
0

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
3

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

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No concerns are currently included for this report.

Other statements in published responses

These actions and other statements could not be clearly connected to one concern in this report.

Recipient-stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.3

  1. 1

    Include guidance on communication between harbour masters and harbour authority boards in updated good-governance guidance for ports.

    Stated by Department for TransportStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 22 January 2016.
  2. 2

    Complete a review of legislation governing derelict vessels in harbours, including consultation with maritime and harbour-sector stakeholders.

    Stated by Department for TransportStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 22 January 2016.
  3. 3

    Publish revised Port Marine Safety Code and associated guidance incorporating advice clarifying harbour authorities’ responsibilities and powers concerning abandoned vessels.

    Stated by Department for TransportStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 22 January 2016.

Recipient positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when they do not describe a specific action.1

  1. 1

    Existing primary legislation and common-law duties provide a sufficient legal framework for dealing with derelict vessels in harbours.

    Stated by Department for TransportExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Include guidance on communication between harbour masters and harbour authority boards in updated good-governance guidance for ports.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The Department has prepared advice to clarify for harbour authorities and harbour masters their various responsibilities and powers relating to abandoned vessels for inclusion in the PMSC and the accompanying Guide to Good Practice, which is due to be reissued shortly. Also, to highlight the importance of good communication between harbour masters and the harbour authority board to enable effective use of their statutory powers, some guidance on this will be included within the good governance guidance for ports when this is updated later in 2016.”

Source location

2016-0020-Response-by-Department-for-Transport
Page 3 · response
Published 22 January 2016

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Complete a review of legislation governing derelict vessels in harbours, including consultation with maritime and harbour-sector stakeholders.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The Department has undertaken a review as to whether the current legislation relating to derelict vessels is fit for purpose. ‘In carrying out the review we have identified the relevant legislation, consulted the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and sought the views of harbour masters through the United Kingdom Harbour Masters Association. The detail of our findings is outlined below. To summarise, our conclusion is that the existing primary legislation and common law duties do provide a sufficient legal framework for dealing with derelict vessels in harbours. However, we recognise that some of the legislation is old and can be difficult to interpret. We have therefore provided further guidance on this matter in the Department’s Port Marine Safety Code and associated Guide to Good Practice, revised versions of which are to be published shortly.”

Source location

2016-0020-Response-by-Department-for-Transport
Page 1 · response
Published 22 January 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Publish revised Port Marine Safety Code and associated guidance incorporating advice clarifying harbour authorities’ responsibilities and powers concerning abandoned vessels.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The Department has undertaken a review as to whether the current legislation relating to derelict vessels is fit for purpose. ‘In carrying out the review we have identified the relevant legislation, consulted the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and sought the views of harbour masters through the United Kingdom Harbour Masters Association. The detail of our findings is outlined below. To summarise, our conclusion is that the existing primary legislation and common law duties do provide a sufficient legal framework for dealing with derelict vessels in harbours. However, we recognise that some of the legislation is old and can be difficult to interpret. We have therefore provided further guidance on this matter in the Department’s Port Marine Safety Code and associated Guide to Good Practice, revised versions of which are to be published shortly.”

Source location

2016-0020-Response-by-Department-for-Transport
Page 1 · response
Published 22 January 2016

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Existing primary legislation and common-law duties provide a sufficient legal framework for dealing with derelict vessels in harbours.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The Department has undertaken a review as to whether the current legislation relating to derelict vessels is fit for purpose. ‘In carrying out the review we have identified the relevant legislation, consulted the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and sought the views of harbour masters through the United Kingdom Harbour Masters Association. The detail of our findings is outlined below. To summarise, our conclusion is that the existing primary legislation and common law duties do provide a sufficient legal framework for dealing with derelict vessels in harbours. However, we recognise that some of the legislation is old and can be difficult to interpret. We have therefore provided further guidance on this matter in the Department’s Port Marine Safety Code and associated Guide to Good Practice, revised versions of which are to be published shortly.”

Source location

2016-0020-Response-by-Department-for-Transport
Page 1 · response
Published 22 January 2016

Open published response
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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026