§ 89. Mr. Keenanasked the Minister of Transport why the s.s. "Shirrabank," of the Bank Line, left Liverpool on 16th November last for the U.S.A. to be dry-docked and overhauled; why, during 1946, A. Holt & Company, Blue Funnel Line, sent a ship to be overhauled and reconditioned in a German port and Harrison Line (Liverpool) sent ships to be reconditioned in Antwerp; and why arrangements were not made for this work to be carried out on Merseyside.
§ Mr. BarnesArrangements for repair and maintenance of their ships are the responsibility of owners. As regards the particular cases quoted by my hon. Friend, I am informed by the shipping companies concerned that no dry dock was available in the Mersey without several days' delay for the "Shirrabank"; that no Blue Funnel ship has been sent to a German port for repair during 1946; and that the Harrison Line ship sent to Antwerp required extensive survey which could not be undertaken at the time in the United Kingdom.