Future Assessments
CONFIDENTIAL
41
The Department
of
Transport
maintains
detailed technical
records of all ships registered in the UK that might be required for
purposes and with somewhat less detail of those registered
defence
in the dependent territories.
British controlled ships
technical detail.
The Department also has lists of
other registries, but with far less
42 The Department of Transport will of course continue to check
the forecasts of ships available for requisition against the
position as it develops over the next few years and to use the
comparison as part of the base on which to revise the forecasts and
will use information about shipowners' plans for the same purpose.
A further comprehensive assessment may be desirable in a
few years
time, but shipping projections are at present particularly difficult
with considerable surplus tonnage available and many fleets
undergoing very substantial adjustment.
43 The geographical availability of ro-ro ferries for UK-Europe
reinforcement is monitored carefully. Availability of general cargo
vessels for this role and as a consequence the UK-Europe resupply
role is tested in various exercises at least annually. A NATO-wide/
check is made every year on a particular day of the position of
ships identified for trans-Atlantic reinforcement and resupply.
majority of the Navy's requirements for ships would be met by ships
readily available in home waters. Since aggregate vessel trading
patterns do not change that quickly,
that quickly, the Department of Transport
considers that it is by these sorts of checks rather than frequent
The
CONFIDENTIAL
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