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14
The general position is the same as reported last year.
The number of water boats working in the Port is 12, all of which have come
under the inspection of your Officers during the year, and have been found to be fit
for the carriage of drinking water.
The following is a report of Mr. T. G. Edwards, the Sanitary Inspector on the
Tilbury Docks, on improved facilities for watering vessels in Tilbury Dock provided
on his recommendations.
The greatest visible point of improvement has taken place at Nos. 82 and 83
Sheds.
For sheds measuring 553 feet and 600 feet only three watering hydrant connections
were fitted, these being situated one at each end and one at the centre. This
naturally entailed very long lengths of hosepipe, especially where two hoses were
used for filling at one aperture on the vessel.
It is common for large passenger vessels to take in water at one big receiving
hopper and then to distribute it throughout the vessel's tanks by means of pipe lines
and stop valves. This central point of filling is usually situated amidships, so that if
water was required quickly, two or more hoses were connected up to the hydrants.
This meant long hoses running from extreme ends of the shed to amidships. These
long lengths of hose were undoubtedly subjected to risk of pollution due to the state
of the quay, working of cargo, and from men continually passing over and often
standing on them.
The installation of two more hydrant connections to each shed at a point between
the existing ones has greatly reduced the length of hose necessary. Hoses can now
be connected straight from shore to ship, and the length of hose lying on the quay is
reduced to a minimum.
The method of leading the hose to the ship is as follows: A rope is given several
turns around the hosepipe and made fast at the shore end to the mooring bit or some
other handy anchorage. The other end is made fast to the ship's rail. When this
rope is hauled tight it holds the hosepipe quite taut and clear of the quay and presents
no obstruction to craft which often work between the ship and the quay.
The vessels using other berths in the dock are not usually fitted with central
filling hoppers, so that the fitting of more hydrant connections would do little to
further the reduction of risk of pollution.
Suggestions here have been that no greater length of hosepipe than is absolutely
necessary should be used. The Port Authority had their lengths of hose in 100 feet,
so it was common to see a ship taking water through a 200 feet length of hose where
120 feet would have been quite sufficient.
Varying lengths of hoses are now kept so that only the actual length of hose
required is used. This does much to save pollution from extra lengths of hose sagging
into the dock, and also lying about the quay. The method of making hoses fast is
the same as already described.
Hydrant standpipes are stored in Port of London Authority's stores. These
are kept quite clean and polished, and Avhen not in actual use are stored in racks
enclosed in a large locker.
Hoses, after use, are washed in two large half-casks fitted under a fresh-water
tap. First of all they are placed in No. 1 tub and scrubbed, which removes any dirt
from the outside of the hose, then they are placed in the next tub where they are
further cleansed. They are then hung from rafters around a large store, where their
drying is completed. When dry they are rolled up and placed in a proper compartment
in a large locker. The locker is lime-washed and kept quite clean.