P.L.A. REPORTS PROGRESS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 8 September 1938, Page 14

P.L.A. REPORTS PROGRESS

29th ANNUAL REPORT ISSUED The 29th Annual Report of the Port of London Authority just issued covers the period from Ist April, 1937, to 31st March, 1938. 62,645,758 net registered tons of shipping arrived at and departed from the Port during the year under review compared with 52,576,755 tons ten years ago. The tonnage of goods imported during the year was 36,704,160 tons, an increase of 4 per cent, over the previous year. Goods exported totalled 7,939,484 tons, an increase of 4.5 per cent, over 1937. The total imports and exports together with transhipment traffic, i.e. 44,643,644 tons, was the highest figure ever recorded in the Port of London. Good progress was made during the year with the works included in the first stage of the programme adopted by the Authority in 1936 for the further improvement and development of the Port of London. Among the works actually completed during the year were a specially equipped berth for the discharge of bananas, the widening of the quay and adaptation of No. 2 warehouse for the storage of plywood at the Surrey Commercial Docks, electrification of certain quays, the construction of Canary Wharf and other improvements at West India Docks, and the erection of a considerable number of electric cranes. Much of the work of constructing over 3,000 ft. of the new deep water quayage on the north side of the Royal Victoria Dock was carried out. During the year 1,310.366 cu. yds. of mud were removed from the docks and 1,912.598 cu. yds. of material were dredged from the river to maintain and deepen the channel. At the request of the Army Council the Authority agreed to co-operate in furthering the expansion of the military docks organisation of the Army Supplementary Reserve, Royal Engineers (Transportation Branch) by inviting volunteers from their staff, including skilled dock workers, and by granting leave facilities for training. Forty-four sunken vessels and craft were removed* from the river by the wreck-raising plant during the year, viz. 3 steamers measuring 10.222 tons in all, 1 motor vessel of 504 tons, 35 barges measuring 2,360 tons and 5 small motor and fishing craft. In addition, 1 steam tug of 28 tons and 5 barges measuring 209 tons were raised in the docks.