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

The following are cited as instances, viz. :-

On January 24th, 1893, the s.s. " Ashdene " commenced loading at six o'clock a.m., and finished at 11.20 a.m., during which time a cargo of 1,433 tons was shipped, the actual loading time being four hours and forty minutes.

On February 25th, 1893, the s.s. " Meggie " arrived at Penarth Dock at 12.30 a.m. and sailed by the mid-day tide of the same day, having taken on board 2,439 tons in 11 hours and 40 minutes.

On March 7th, 1893, the s.s. " Ashdene " commenced loading at 6 a.m. and sailed at 10 o'clock, having taken on board, within the four hours, 1,424 tons of Coal from one tip.

On April 3rd, 1893, the s.s. " Britannia " went under a tip at 6 a.m. and completed loading at 9.15 a.m.,the total cargo and bunkers being 1,210 tons, and the nett time in loading, after deducting 30 minutes for shifting hatches, two hours 45 minutes, or at a rate of about 450 tons per hour.

On the 22nd May, 1893, the steamer " Britannia " chartered by Messrs. D. Radford & Co., docked at 9.15 a.m., and after taking in 1,185 tons 16 cwt. of cargo and bunkers, proceeded to sea at 1 p.m. on the same tide. This is the first time that such a feat has been accomplished in any dock in the Bristol Channel, and shews that for dispatch Penarth Dock holds the very foremost place.

As an instance of the dispatch generally afforded, it may be stated that the large sailing ship " Oweence " arrived at Penarth Dock on Jan. 10th, 1893, and in 22 hours 1,000 tons of ballast was discharged and a cargo of 3,689 tons of Coal shipped in 60 hours.