§ Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many men were on board His Majesty's Ship "Walrus" when she went ashore at Scarborough; what gale warnings had been received prior to the ship being taken to sea in tow or were issued while she was at sea; if the contract for refloating the ship was put out to competition; how long it took the firm employed to refloat the ship; and if he is satisfied that this firm made a seamanlike job of the operation?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThere were four riggers on board His Majesty's Ship "Walrus" when she went ashore on the 12th February last. Four gale warnings1114W were received during a period of 32 hours before "Walrus" put to sea and three more while she was at sea.
In view of the serious damage sustained by "Walrus" when she went ashore after breaking adrift, it was decided not to salvage and repair this 20-year-old ship but to sell her as she lay for breaking up, after guns and certain fittings had been removed.
She was sold to the same firm which undertook the contract for removal of the guns and fittings. In view of the danger of the ship breaking up where she lay under stress of weather, immediate action was necessary and it was not possible to proceed by way of competitive tender. The Admiralty is not concerned with the operations of the contractors subsequent to the sale.