A plethora of cargo cranes were requisitioned by the War Department from the East Coast ports including Hull and Middlesbrough and installed along the northern quay at Penarth Dock in support of the war effort. Their jibs are parked away from the ships for safety but also to facilitate a quick departure of the vessels should it prove necessary. The GWR plan below provides further information.

The original photograph is held at the archive of the National Museum of Wales. [Museum item number : 1999.169/7] [629] [20180331]

A plan of Penarth Dock and the Ely Tidal Harbour dated 8th July 1942 showing the location and details of installed appliances. The north quay of the dock is equipped with no less than seventeen movable electric or hydraulically operated cargo cranes plus a hand operated crane. As can be seen from the table, they were requisitioned for the war effort from Hull and Middlesbrough Docks. The Bristol Channel being open to the Atlantic Ocean and more direct supply routes from the US meant that convoys did not have to negotiate the English Channel and thus ports of South Wales became strategically vitally important as the war progressed. The initials 'C.S.' in the maker column denote Cowans, Sheldon & Company whilst 'E.F.R.' denotes the East Ferry Road Engineering Company.

The original plan is part of a series held at the Glamorgan Archives. [Glamorgan Archive Reference : D31/3 - Plans and drawings of Penarth Dock and equipment - 1922-1941] [599] [20180331]