HC Deb 15 November 1911 vol 31 cc346-7
Mr. FELL

asked if Mooring Lighter No. 78 was in Great Yarmouth harbour from the 4th to 10th November, moored within 300 yards of the spot where the sunken drifter lay in the fairway from the 3rd to 7th November, when she was raised by the Port and Haven Commissioners; and, seeing that the Lighter No. 78 was fitted with appliances which would have enabled the sunken drifter to be raised in a few hours instead of taking three days, will he explain why she was not employed?

Dr. MACNAMARA

Mooring Lighter No. 78 with attendant tug put into Yarmouth, as already stated, on account of stress of weather. She waited until the 10th, as stated in the question, prepared to leave the moment the weather abated. The lighter was proceeding north for mooring work, and had left her salvage gear at Sheerness in order to lighten her for the long journey north, and to accommodate mooring materials. Apart therefore from the fact that the service for which she was detailed was urgent, and that any unnecessary delay was extremely undesirable, she was not suitably equipped for raising the sunken vessel.