Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Two - The Era of Optimism, Investment & Development - Developments at the turn of the 20th century . .

This photo dating from around 1908 was included within an acquisition via eBay of over one hundred views of Cardiff and District which has been added to my Penarth Dock Collection. The four moving coal tips are situated at the north quay of the basin and the 'Peruviana' looks to be down on her marks - the Plimsoll line - indicating that she is fully laden with good old Welsh steam coal and has steam up awaiting the tide for departure. One shute remains lowered at the tips which could indicate that her bunkers are being topped up. [001] [328]

On March 17th, 1913, the German steel barge 'Unterwesser 18', on voyage from Emden to Bremerhaven with a cargo of coal, was wrecked at Grossvogelsand, Elbe River according to Wrecksite. [214] Here you can see in the enlargement, the crew or hobblers working away leveling the piles of coal to enable the hatch covers to be fitted prior to sailing. She was a vessel of 933 gross registered tonnage being 65.2 m in length 10.1 m beam. Thanks to Jan Lettens at the Wrecksite for the information. [001] [328]

The 'Peruviana' ready for casting off. Built in 1905 at Stockton-on-Tees she was of 3,803 gross registered tonnage, 106.7 m long x 14.1 m beam powered by a triple expansion steam engine of 308 nominal horsepower giving her a speed of 11 knots. She was renamed 'Kamo' in 1922 and ran aground and sank in December 1936 off Kagan Island in the Bering Sea. Now that's cold water at that time of year and its not clear if there were any casualties. Once again, many thanks to Wrecksite and its contributors for their meticulous research and records. [001] [214] [328]