1884 - Lloyd's Committee at Penarth - Representatives of Lloyd's Committee paid a visit to the works of the Penarth Shipbuilding and Ship-Repairing Company (Limited), at Penarth. They were shown over the establishment by R. Munroe, the manager.

The committee minutely inspected the hydraulic machinery for hauling ships up the slipway, consisting of three cylinders, which can be used either separately or together, according to the size of the vessel. They are worked from the accumulators of the Penarth Dock Company, at a pressure of 750 lb. to the square inch.

The slipway is fitted with Chadburn's repeating telegraph, which conveys the orders from the berthing master upon the jetty to the man in charge of the machinery in the hydraulic house. The slipway is capable of taking in and hauling up vessels 310 ft. in length, and of 2250 tons displacement. The machinery in the boiler shop is of a massive construction, and was manufactured by Messrs. Craig and Donald, engineers, Johnstone-on-Clyde.

The gridiron is 384 ft. long, and can take on vessels up to 3500 tons displacement. There is also a new jetty for vessels to lay alongside when only requiring internal or deck repairs.

The company has had 812 steamers and ships on the slipway and gridiron since they commenced operations four years since. The premises are fitted up with the electric light throughout. - Engineering v.38 [627] 29th August 1884. [499]