Volume Nine - Pre-Victorian to the present day - even more aspects - Penarth Dock and Tidal Harbour - Handbook - 1893 . . .

The depth of water on the Dock sill is 35ft. 9in. ordinary spring, and 25ft. 9in. ordinary neap tides. The entrance channel, which has recently been deepened and widened, and is kept constantly dredged, is deeper by several feet than the Dock sill, so that vessels enter deep water immediately on leaving the Dock. Penarth has in fact one of the deepest entrances in the Channel, in proof of which it may be stated that some of the largest merchantmen afloat, laden to their utmost capacity, have left the Dock without delay and with perfect safety. The following are some of these, viz. :-