MR. BRYNMOR JONES (Swansea District)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is now aware that Her Majesty's transport steamship "Dunera" was not neaped for three days in Port Talbot, as previously alleged, but 690 that in fact during the whole of the time during which the steamship "Dunera" lay in that port there was ample water and width of channel for her to have departed in safety on any tide after completing her loading of coal; and whether he will state the authority upon which the previous report was based.
§ MR. MACARTNEYThe "Dunera" entered Port Talbot with a falling neap tide on 7th March, and from the master's experience in going in he determined that the risk of taking the ship out after coaling, with a turn to make in the narrowest part, on a dark night, no leading light to turn on, and on a falling neap tide, was too great without, at least, the same depth of water as he had on entering, and in this opinion he was supported by the local Transport officer. She undocked on the afternoon of the 13th March. Although it is just possible that the ship might have been got out earlier, the risk would have been very great, and therefore she was practically "neaped."
§ MR. MACARTNEYUpon the authority of the Admiralty.