§ 47. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many vessels over 100,000 tons registered are now in commission or on the stocks; and what steps are being taken to modernise United Kingdom ports so that they will be able to accommodate both in wet and dry docks the large vessels now under construction.
§ Mr. HayThere is only one ship over 100,000 tons deadweight in commission and none is at present on the stocks. There is already a berth for tankers of this size in the Clyde and four more are being built at Milford Haven. Port authorities, ship repairers and others concerned are well aware of the requirements of very large ships for which a number of projects for both wet berths and dry docks are under consideration or are being formulated.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Minister aware of the report that there are six of these ships under construction in Japan but that in this country, the greatest maritime nation of the world, we have no ports which will accommodate any of these ships when they are taken off the stocks? Will he take steps to see that our ports are modernised so that they can take these ships when they are afloat?
§ Mr. HayThe hon. Member is misinformed. As I said in the Answer, there is already one ship over 100,000 tons deadweight. There are three tankers of this size on order, one in Japan and two in the United States, but there is none yet building. As for the facilities in this country, I made it clear in my Answer that there is a berth for tankers of this size in the Clyde and there will be four at Milford Haven. There is one drydock in this country at Southampton which is capable of taking this size of ship and the building of another at Greenock is under consideration.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs not the most urgent necessity that of providing a graving dock in the Clyde as early as possible?