Merchant Shipping Pollution Bill [HL]

The noble Lord, Lord Hanningfield, has raised an important point, but I thought that we disposed of it at Second Reading. I would be grateful if the noble Baroness would confirm what I believe to be true: that if countries of flags of convenience are not covered by the insurance provisions of MARPOL, they will not be admitted to our waters. If that is not true, we shall not be very happy because, as the noble Lord, Lord Hanningfield, said, the provisions would seem meaningless if Panama, Liberia and other countries got away with operating what are called ““rust buckets”” while we comfort ourselves with the fact that our ships, which do not convey much oil and probably do so in much better-maintained and better-officered ships, are made to sign up. There is another matter to which I should like the Minister to refer. The Bill refers to pollution of the sea by oil, although it has been extended both to nitrogen oxide and sulphur. However, one of the worst forms of sea pollution is the tipping into it from the decks of ships non-biodegradable materials and waste products. Will the Minister confirm that there are proper arrangements at ports for ships to unload waste materials and that they can do so without huge financial penalties, so that the temptation to tip the stuff into the sea is removed?