§ 81. Mr. WHELERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether His Majesty's tug "Syrian," of Sheerness, is employed for ocean towage as far as the Firth of Forth and Cromarty; whether she carries any lifeboat when at sea; and, if not, what beat accommodation is provided for the crew in case of danger to the vessel?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe "Tyrian," to which vessel I presume the hon. Member refers, is a small twin-screw steel tug, of 300 tons displacement, and 450 indicated horse-power, built in 1900. She has been employed on the towage of lighters to Scotland, and in connection with mooring work in Scottish waters. She is a vessel of comparatively light draught, and therefore most suitable for that particular service, in the carrying out of which she would never be very far from land. She has not carried a lifeboat, but a fourteen feet boat of ordinary build. I am making further inquiry into the question of boat provision.
§ Mr. WHELERMay I ask if it is not a fact that there was a crew of fifteen on the vessel which never had lifeboat accommodation for more than six?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI think the norma crew would be eleven, and that at sea she might have two more, making thirteen. The boat she had might carry eight.