Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) (Amendment) Regulations 2009

My Lords, reading this order through, the only question is why this was not done a while ago. Not discharging sewage at sea seems rather hard to oppose. However, are there ports that are incapable of taking this on? This is the point raised by the noble Lord, Lord Hanningfield, and it deserves some consideration. There is usually a way of transferring even the most foul and noxious substances to places where pumping facilities are available. Is that what is going to happen? Is the rest of Europe more prepared than us, or as prepared as we are? I do not think there is a major question about disadvantaging most shipping, because it is local and this is a Europe-wide order, but it would be interesting to know the state of preparedness. Are the Government reasonably satisfied that with reasonable adaptations most ports can comply with these regulations? The principle is solid, so is there a way round the practical problems?