HC Deb 25 March 1889 vol 334 cc715-6
SIR JOHN COLOMB (Tower Hamlets)

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give any information as to the prospects of raising H.M.S. Sultan; whether it is a fact that a very considerable amount of dead weight had to be carried in this ship as ballast; if so, what was the amount of such dead weight so carried; when and by whom was the Sultan designed?

LORD G. HAMILTON

The latest telegram from the Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean speaks very discouragingly of any hopes of raising the Sultan. The Admiralty have requested a salvage company, who have special experience in work of this sort, to examine and report on the subject. The Sultan carries 460 tons of iron and cement ballast equivalent to about one foot of increased draught. She was designed by Mr. Reed, now Sir E. J. Reed, when Chief Constructor of the Navy in 1868. The ballast was added after Mr. Reed left the Admiralty, on the recommendation of the Constructive Department, in order to give the stability that was considered necessary.

SIR J. COLOMB

Does the noble Lord the First Lord of the Admiralty know whether the Vanguard also carried a large amount of dead weight, and that at this moment there are other ships carrying dead weight?

SIR E. J. REED (Cardiff)

I wish to ask whether the designer of the Sultan was consulted before the ballast was put into her?

LORD GEORGE HAMILTON

The Sultan was designed by the hon. Gentleman (Sir E. J. Reed), and with another deck battery the ballast was rendered necessary.

LORD C. BERESFORD (Marylebone)

I beg to ask the noble Lord whether, in the event of the Salvage Company being able to raise the vessel, he will submit the proposal to the House before accepting it? I should regard it as a waste of money.

LORD G. HAMILTON

Of course the expense will be a serious matter for consideration.