Updating on the UK’s response to Hurricane Irma, International Development Secretary Priti Patel said:

No one can fail to be affected by the absolute desperate plight of people in the Caribbean who have been hit by Hurricane Irma. My thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected, particularly with the British nationals in our Overseas Territories of Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.

This has been devastating. It’s the most powerful storm to hit the Atlantic, it’s brought devastation in its wake. It’s destroyed buildings and infrastructure, but it’s had such an impact on people’s lives because people have seen their livelihoods completely destroyed, and of course some people are missing, and some will have lost loved ones.

We have taken action, we have moved swiftly. We have people on the ground, £32 million has been released. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship RFA Mounts Bay is in position, providing assistance from Royal Marines and Army Engineers and a military task group is on its way on HMS Ocean with several hundred UK troops. Of course we will continue to look at what is needed, and we will provide what is necessary.

We must not forget that there is a further storm on the way, and that the Turks and Caicos Islands still lie in the path of Hurricane Irma. But that won’t stop us from providing the assistance that is needed, and doing everything we can to help.

We have been consistent in our condemnation of the actions of the Venezuelan government and in our unwavering support for the National Assembly as a democratic institution.

Today’s meeting is an unambiguous signal that the UK will continue to work with our international partners to put pressure on the authorities to decrease tension in Venezuela and prevent the country from being taken further away from democracy.

In particular we are deeply troubled by the detention of political prisoners such as Leopoldo Lopez, whose case we heard at Downing Street today.

Mr Lopez’s continued detention and the actions of the Venezuelan authorities in preventing his wife Lillian Tintori from travelling to Europe are a matter of great concern.

I once again urge the Venezuelan government to ensure that human rights, the rule of law, the separation of powers and the integrity of democratic institutions are respected.

The Department for Education has today (8 September 2017) announced the appointment of Chris Millward as the first Director for Fair Access and Participation of the Office for Students (OfS).

The OfS is a new public body, established by the Higher Education and Research Act 2017. Once fully operational in April 2018 the OFS – which will replace the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) – will regulate the higher education sector and place students’ interests at its heart.

Chris Millward is joining the OfS following over ten years at HEFCE as their Head of Policy. While at HEFCE, Chris led on refoms to ensure more people from disadvantaged backgrounds were given the chance to study at England’s world-leading universities, as well as the implementation of the Teaching Excellence Framework which recognises excellent teaching and learning across the higher education sector.

Justine Greening, Secretary of State for Education said:

As someone who was the first person in my family to go to university, I know how transforming this opportunity can be for young people.

More young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are going to university than ever before – up 43% since 2009. But we know there is more to do to level the playing field.

Chris Millward has a wealth of expertise and understanding of the higher education sector which will be invaluable in helping to drive forward further improvements and ensuring no student misses out.

Universities Minister Jo Johnson said:

We have made significant progress to ensure that everyone, no matter what their background, gets the chance to study at one of our world-leading universities.

I would personally like to thank Professor Les Ebdon, the current Director for Fair Access, for his excellent work in driving this forward with record rates of disadvantaged students entering higher education.

The new Office for Students will rightfully put the interests of students at the heart of the higher education system. Chris’s experience and expertise will ensure we can continue to tackle inequalilty, improve transparency in the sector and achieve positive outcomes for disadvantaged students.

Sir Michael Barber, Chair of the Office for Students said:

I am delighted with the appointment of Chris Millward as the Director for Fair Access and Participation. Chris brings a great deal of experience and credibility to this role, having, most recently, led the implementation of the Teaching Excellence Framework with great skill.

He is well placed to drive a step change in the access, success and progression of all under-represented groups, which is fundamental to the Office for Students.

As the Director for Fair Access and Participation, Chris will play a crucial role in ensuring higher education institutions are doing all they can to support underrepresented groups, from widening access, to monitoring retention, attainment and progression from higher education. Chris Millward will serve a four-year term in the first instance, which is subject to renewal up to a maximum of ten years.

Mr Millward has been appointed following an open and transparent recruitment process, conducted in line with the Governance Code for Public Appointments, which is regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

The OfS will have a duty to promote equality of opportunity. This will mean looking beyond getting students from disadvantaged backgrounds into university – they will also be charged with making sure that providers are doing all they can to support the students throughout their course, helping to tackle drop-out rates and support disadvantaged students into employment.

During August, there was one new detention of foreign flagged vessels in a UK port. Six vessels remained under detention from previous months. A total of seven vessels remain under detention at the end of August.

1. In response to one of the recommendations of Lord Donaldson’s inquiry into the prevention of pollution from merchant shipping, and in compliance with the EU Directive on Port State Control (2009/16/EC as amended), the Maritime and Coastguard agency (MCA) publishes details of the foreign flagged vessels detained in UK ports each month.

2. The UK is part of a regional agreement on port state control known as the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MOU) and information on all ships that are inspected is held centrally in an electronic database known as THETIS. This allows the ships with a high risk rating and poor detention records to be targeted for future inspection.

3. Inspections of foreign flagged ships in UK ports are undertaken by surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. When a ship is found to be not in compliance with applicable convention requirements, a deficiency may be raised. If any of their deficiencies are so serious they have to be rectified before departure, then the ship will be detained.

4. All deficiencies should be rectified before departure if at all possible.

5. When applicable, the list includes those passenger craft prevented from operating under the provisions of the EU Directive on Mandatory Surveys for the safe operation of regular Ro-Ro ferry and high speed passenger craft services (1999/35/EU).

Notes on the list of detentions

• Full details of the ship. The accompanying detention list shows ship’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) number which is unchanging throughout the ship’s life and uniquely identifies it. It also shows the ship’s name and flag state at the time of its inspection.
• Company. The company shown in the vessel’s Safety Management Certificate (SMC) or if there is no SMC, then the party otherwise believed to be responsible for the safety of the ship at the time of inspection.
• Classification Society. The list shows the Classification Society responsible for classing the ship only.
• Recognised Organisation. Responsible for conducting the statutory surveys: and issuing statutory certificates on behalf of the Flag State
• White (WL), Grey (GL) and Black lists (BL) are issued by the Paris MoU on 01 July each year and shows the performance of flag State.

SHIPS DETAINED IN AUGUST 2017

Vessel Name: NIHAL

GT: 3790

IMO: 8918435

Flag: Cook Islands (Black List)

Company: DMV Denizcilik Ltd

Classification Society: NKK

Recognised Organisation: N/A

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: N/A

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: N/A

Date and Place of Detention: 30th August 2017 at Birkenhead

Summary: Thirteen deficiencies with two grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
11105 – Rescue boat inventory	Missing equipment	No
18302 – Sanitary facilities	Not as required	No
10118 – Speed and distance indicator	Inoperative	No
07106 – Fire detection & alarm system	Not as required	No
07106 – Fire detection & alarm system	Not as required	No
07125 – Evaluation of crew performance (fire drills)	Lack of training	No
07113 – Fire pump and its pipes	Not as required	No
01102 – Cargo ship safety construction certificate (including exempt)	Not properly filled	No
01199 – Other (certificate)	Other	No
01139 – Maritime Labour Certificate	Not properly filled	No
99102 – Other (SOLAS operational)	Other	No
04114 – Emergency source of power – emergency generator	Inoperative	Yes
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes

This vessel was still detained on 31st August 2017

DETENTIONS CARRIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS MONTHS

Vessel Name: REGGAE

GT: 1567

IMO: 8500408

Flag: Panama (White list)

Company: Voda Denizcilik Ve Districet Ltd

Classification Society: NKK

Recognised Organisation: NKK

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: National Shipping Adjuster Inc

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: NKK

Date and Place of Detention: 27th June 2017 at Leith

Summary: Nineteen deficiencies with four grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
07112 – Emergency escape breathing device and disposition	Not as required	No
18425 – Access/structural features (ship)	Missing equipment	No
04109 – Fire drills	Lack of training	No
04108 – Muster List	Incomplete	No
10105 – Magnetic compass	Not readable	No
09232 – Cleanliness of engine room	Insufficient	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	No
03108 – Ventilators, air pipes, casing	Damaged	No
02101 – Closing devices/watertight doors	Inoperative	No
07105 – Fire doors/openings in fire-resisting divisions	Not as required	No
18203 – Wages	Not according SEA	Yes
11117 – Lifebuoys incl. provision and disposition	Missing	No
02105 – Steering gear	Not as required	No
11108 – Inflatable liferafts	Insufficient	No
01220 – Seafarers’ employment agreement (SEA)	Not as required	Yes
18314 – Provision quantity	Insufficient	Yes
18204 – Calculation and payment of wages	Not according SEA	Yes
10116 – Nautical publications	Not updated	No
13102 – Auxiliary engine	Missing	No

This vessel was still detained on 31st August 2017

Vessel Name: SECCADI

GT: 1596

IMO: 9123295

Flag: Panama (White list)

Company: Voda Gemi Isletmeciligi AS

Classification Society: NKK

Recognised Organisation: National Shipping Adjusters Inc Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: NKK

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: NKK

Date and Place of Detention: 20th June at Runcorn

Summary: Eleven deficiencies with six grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
12220 – Seafarers’ employment agreement (SEA)	Not as required	Yes
18203 – Wages	No records	Yes
18203 – Wages	Missing	Yes
18203 – Wages	Not according to SEA	Yes
18203 – Wages	Not adequate	Yes
18201 – Fitness for duty – work and rest hours	Not as required	No
18313 – Cleanliness	Signs of vermin	No
18314 – Provision quantity	Insufficient	Yes
18308 – Furnishing	Damaged	No
18302 – Sanitary Facilities	Damaged	No
15150 – ISM	Not as required	No

This vessel was still detained on 31st August 2017

Vessel Name: TAHSIN

GT: 1598

IMO: 9055187

Flag: Panama (White list)

Company: Voda Denizcilik IC Dis Tacaret Ltd

Classification Society: NKK

Recognised Organisation: NKK/NASHA

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: NKK

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: NKK

Date and Place of Detention: 2nd June at Sharpness

Summary: Twelve deficiencies with eight grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
18327 – Ventilation (working spaces)	Inoperative	Yes
10116 – Nautical publications	Missing	Yes
01214 – Endorsement by flagstate	Missing	No
01220 – Seafarers’ employment agreement (SEA)	Invalid	Yes
11128 – Line-throwing appliance	Expired	No
11129 – Operational readiness of lifesaving appliances	Expired	No
01202 – Certificate for rating for watching	Missing	Yes
18203 – Wages	Not according SEA	Yes
10111 – Charts	Missing	Yes
05106 – INMARSAT ship earth station	Not as required	Yes
15150 – ISM	Not as required	Yes
03104 – Cargo & other hatchways	Damaged	No

This vessel was still detained on 31st August 2017

Vessel Name: MALAVIYA SEVEN

GT: 3001

IMO: 9087312

Flag: India (Grey List)

Company: GOL Offshore Ltd

Classification Society: IRS

Recognised Organisation: IRS

Recognised Organisation for ISM Doc: IRS

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: IRS

Date and Place of Detention: 5th October 2016 at Aberdeen

Summary: Five deficiencies with five grounds for detention

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
07105 – Fire doors/openings in fire resisting divisions	Not as required	Yes
07113 – Fire pumps and its pipes	Not as required	Yes
18203 – Wages	Missing	Yes
01220 – Seafarers employment agreement (SEA)	Invalid	Yes
18204 – Calculation and payment of wages	No records	Yes

This vessel was still detained on 31st August 2017

Vessel Name: SEA TRIDENT

GT: 964.

IMO No: 7393169.

Flag: PANAMA (white list)

Company:

Classification Society: Expired

Recognised Organisation: Expired

Recognised Organisation for ISM DOC:

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC:

Date and Place of Detention: 17 June 2016, West Cowes

Summary: Seventeen deficiencies with seventeen grounds for detentions

Defective item	Nature of defect	Ground for Detention
01101 – Cargo ship safety equipment cert	Expired	Yes
01102 – Cargo Ship safety construction cert	Expired	Yes
01104 – Cargo ship safety radio cert	Expired	Yes
01108 – Loadline cert	Expired	Yes
01117 – IOPP (International Oil Pollution Prevention cert	Expired	Yes
01119 – International Sewage Pollution Prevention cert	Expired	Yes
01124 – International Air Pollution Prevention cert	Expired	Yes
01137 – Civil liability for bunker oil pollution damage cert	Expired	Yes
01199 – Other certs (Certificate of class)	Expired	Yes
01201 – Certificates for master and officers	Missing	Yes
10111 – Charts	Not updated	Yes
10116 – Publications Nautical	Not updated	Yes
11108 – Inflatable liferafts	Expired	Yes
11116 – Distress flares	Missing	Yes
07109 – Fixed fire fighting extinguishing installation	Not as required	Yes
07110 – Fire fighting equipment & appliances	Not as required	Yes
01140 – Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance	Missing	Yes

This vessel was still detained on 31st August 2017

Vessel Name: CIEN PORCIENTO (General Cargo)

GT: 106.

IMO No: 8944446.

Flag: Unregistered.

Company: Open Window Inc.

Classification Society: Unclassed.

Recognised Organisation: Not applicable.

Recognised Organisation for ISM DOC: Not applicable.

Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: Not applicable

Date and Place of detention: 4 March 2010, Lowestoft

Summary: Thirty deficiencies including seven grounds for detention

This vessel was still detained on 31st August 2017

Notes to Editors

• The MCA is a partner in the Sea Vision UK campaign to raise awareness and understanding of the sea and maritime activities. Sea Vision promotes the importance and economic value of the sector and works to highlight the exciting range of activities and career opportunities available to young people within the UK growing maritime sector at www.seavision.org.uk

• Follow us on Twitter: @MCA_media

For further information please contact Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office, on: +44 (0) 2380 329 401 Press releases and further information about the agency is available here.