Volume Ten - Pre-Victorian to the present day - even more aspects - Penarth Dock in 1896 . . .

The entrance channel from the sea to the outer dock gates is very short, it is always kept dredged to several feet below the dock sill, the Dock Company being owners of the powerful dredger " Ely " (capable of dredging to a depth of 30 ft.), a steam powered hopper barge, the steam tug " Primrose, " and six other hoppers ; the dredging plant is constantly at work at the Dock, Basin, and Entrance Channel. The largest vessels trading at the port can be accommodated, and as a matter of fact many of the largest merchant vessels afloat, laden to their utmost capacity, have arrived at and sailed from Penarth Dock without delay and with perfect safety.

The mechanical appliances at the Dock are chiefly worked by hydraulic power, at a pressure of 750 lbs. per square inch. The pressure is supplied by six pumps, two of 5¼ in. diameter and 24 in. stroke, and four of 3½ in. diameter and 24 in. stroke, worked by two pairs of horizontal steam engines, 18 in .cylinder and 24 in. stroke, steam supplied by four tubular boilers, 27 ft. long and 6 ft. diameter, working at 60 lbs. pressure.

The Dock gates and bridges are opened and closed by hydraulic power,and eight hydraulic capstans are provided at the outer and inner gates to assist vessels passing in and out of Dock.

There are fourteen high level coal tipping staiths on the Dock and two on the Basin, some of which are double or twin staiths. Three have recently been re-constructed with moveable shoots rising to 50 to 60 ft. above the water line, whereby steamers of the largest class can take their bunker coal when light without interruption. All the coal staiths are worked by hydraulic power, and are capable of shipping at the greatest possible speed. On one occasion this year no less than 700 tons were shipped into a steamer by one staith in one hour and ten minutes.

The staiths are fitted with double screens, and every provision has been made for the shipment of coal with a minimum of breakage. The staiths are equipped with counter-balancing weights so that wagons may, when necessary, be suspended in the butt of the shoot for any length of time thereby enabling the coal to be shipped gradually, and therefore with less breakage.