• 1987 - Construction of the marina is almost completed in this aerial photograph kindly supplied by Vilis at the Penarth Framing Services [113]. On the headland is the former Penarth Hotel of the Taff Vale Railway. A dredger clears a channel to the sea lock of the basin entrance to the Penarth Dock. The gable end of the Mercantile Marine Offices is also visible with a single storey annex adjacent. Two trees now grow on the seaward side where the demolished Marine Hotel (public house) once stood.

At this time the Mercantile Marine Office had a dual use as residential apartments and offices for local business. The London Gazette [100] provides somewhat sad information about a number of people who were declared bankrupt, insolvent or in the process of. For example, it contains a notice in the 13th February 1987 edition that a Mr. Walters resides at 86 Marine Buildings, Penarth Dock, CF6 1LR and also reported on 20th May 1987 that the Public Examination was Adjourned. So it appears likely that the buildings were still in use as residential units at the date of this photograph.