WESTPORT HARBOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 126, 24 November 1926, Page 9

WESTPORT HARBOUR

IMPROVEMENTS RECOMMENDED

IMPRESSIONS OF STEAMER'S

CAPTAIN.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WESTPORT, This Day. At a meeting at the BuHer Progress League last evening, Captain Radford, of the Clan 34*Neil, who was present by limitation, gave some of his impressions on the needs oi Westport, stating these inehided berthage and more cranes. None of those on the wharf were suitable for loading the bunkers of vessel* like the Clan M'Neil. There was need for more swinging room, so as to take in vessels up to 475 ft in length. The Clan M'Neil was 425 ft long, and she had a cargo capacity of 5000 tons. More berthage could easily be provided by extending the wharf in the direction of the dismantled Straiths, and a greater depth of water on the bar could be obtained by more constant dredging. At the same time, Captain Radford said that he wished- to correct the impressions of Westport that were given' to him in: other ports. When he was going to Westport, said i the captain, sympathy was expressed | with him. He was told that '.he bar was dangerous, and he would have to lie out in the roadstead. It was also stated that he would find great diffi- | cutty in swinging in the river, whereas he had found on arrival that the port was easily worked, the vessel was skilfully and easily swung, and the conditions generally were much more favourable than he was led to believe they were. If the improvements mentioned were earned oat he was sure that larger vessels wonld come to Westport, and its trade would rapidly expand. The league decided to ascertain the views of others interested in the trade of the port, and have these embodied in a report for the purpose of moving the authorities to more activity in harbour improvement and equipment.