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THE PROVISION OF SANITARY ACCOMMODATION AT THE DOCKS
Permanent Accommodation
As a matter of urgency provision of up-to-date and adequate sanitary conveniences has been
the continued concern of the Port of London Authority and the Port Health Authority. A programme
giving priority according to demand has been arranged which includes schemes of reconstruction
and additional construction to augment existing provisions which may be inadequate. Location
is a very important factor, particularly to resident crews of ships obliged to use the conveniences
and similarly to the dockworkers employed at the berths. The new conveniences are comprehensive
in design and provide separate accommodation for ladies, officers, shore staff, crew and
dock employees. Those sited at berths normally occupied by ships with Asian crews are specifically
provided with a section which meets the personal customs of Asians.
In addition to providing conveniences it is necessary to arrange for their maintenance which
must include supervised daily cleansing. At present this work is carried out by a servicing contractor,
but difficulties have been met with toilets that have been misused. Such incidents are
unfortunately frequent and there would appear to be no remedy short of the employment of regular
attendants which would be considered financially prohibitive since the conveniences are in
service by night and day. The Port Health Staff systematically inspect for cleanliness and
efficiency of the installations to expedite corrective action where nuisances are discovered.
Hooliganism, leading to wanton destruction of sanitary fittings, often occurs after normal dock
working hours and is becoming a matter of concern to the P.L.A. Dock Police.
The reconstruction programme has been extended to conform with the requirements of the Food
Hygiene (Docks Carriers) Regulations, 1960 and in this respect has been almost completed. To
this end, the allocation of sanitary accommodation has been met by some conversions as well as
some new construction at the meat discharging berths. Units in service comprise twin urinal
stalls and 4 feet washing troughs, situated at the following berths
Royal Victoria Dock 'A', 'F, and 'Z' sheds.
Royal Albert Dock No. 10-12, No. 12-14, No. 29, No. 33 sheds
King George V Dock No. 5, No. 4-6, No. 6-8, sheds.
Although soap dispensers and electrically operated hand driers are provided at some of the
units where conversions have been carried out, this problem remains to be solved generally and
is a subject for further consideration.
MOBILE AND TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION
In order to meet the needs of the large number of passengers who disembark and may be
detained for some time ashore by landing formalities, suitable sanitary units are moved into the
area as necessary
For the convenience of those who find it expedient to use lavatories aboard ship rather than
those ashore at the berths arrangements can be made on request for them to have portable chemical
closets, serviced by a contractor. This is a particularly useful provision in wintry weather
for wives or families on visit, especially of a ship happens not to be moored alongside.
NEW LAUNCH TO REPLACE M.L. "ALFRED ROBERTSON"
After twenty-six years of continuous service the launch "Alfred Robertson" no longer has
the speed and amenities for present day requirements of the port health service. It has therefore
been decided to replace her by a slightly larger vessel, increasing the overall length by 4 ft. 6 ins.,
the beam by 2ft. and the moulded depth by 6 ins. Thus the dimensions of the new vessel will be
Length overall 58 ft. 6 ins.
Breadth moulded 14 ft. 0 ins.
Depth moulded 7 ft. 0 ins.
Draft aft 5 ft. 3 ins.
The new launch will be of steel construction, with a single screw driven by a Gardner diesel
engine developing 230 b.h.p. to give the desired operational speed of 10 knots. The General
Arrangement plan shows the cruiser stern and forward flare and sheer, which are designed to help
keep the decks reasonably dry in adverse weather when underway.
Although primarily for the Middle River District service, this new vessel will be able to
relieve "Humphrey Morris' on Gravesend Boarding Station in cases of emergency, and will be
built under the Survey of Lloyds Register of Shipping with equipment in accordance with the
latest requirements of the Ministry of Transport.
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