The cross compound engines designed by Clark & Standfield for use in the dock supplied and built in the UK for the Mitsubishi Company of Kobe in Japan. It was under construction during January 1904 being a sectional pontoon 412' - 6" (125.7) long with 7,000 tons lifting power. The hull weighed 2,750 tons. Clark and Stanfield list the dock to be destined for the "Mitsu Bishi Dockyard and Engine Works".

Based upon the general arrangement drawings and the purchase and product specification found in the Newcastle Archives, the engines for the Penarth Dock were almost, if not, identical to those illustrated. The pontoon for Penarth was smaller but had a specification which required a faster lifting time, hence, the horsepower output of the engines was also similar.

This configuration of steam engine is somewhat unique in that the drive shaft is orientated vertically. The drive power being transmitted via flexible couplings, necessary to take up any misalignment and to reduce vibration, and supported by ball bearing units, to the pumps which were mounted in the base of the dock some 30 feet (9.1 m) below. [015] [016] [020] [062]