Struggling ferry companies are facing further hardship under proposed European legislation, according to a Kent MP.

The new plans, developed by the European Transport Commission, aim to help rescue services in the event of a disaster by requiring every passenger to be listed.

The Zeebrugge tragedy, in which the Herald of Free Enterprise overturned, and the sinking of the Estonia in 1994 raised major concerns about the safety of cross-channel ferries.

Extra paperwork would hit profitability of ferry companies, says Roger Gale MP

Under the proposed legislation, ferry companies would be forced to record the name, age and sex of all passengers.

But the Conservative MP for North Thanet, Kent, Roger Gale, says the lists, which would be used by rescuers should something go wrong, will just add a layer of bureaucracy.

Edmund Brookes, from the Chamber of Shipping, says companies are unhappy (Dur: 1-36)

Mr Gale says the extra paperwork will cause long delays for passengers and he will call in the Commons for the regulations to be scrapped.

With ferries fighting a bitter commercial war against the Channel Tunnel, he says the proposals as a blow to the industry's viability.

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