asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the total number and tonnage of (1) steam vessels, (2) motor vessels, (3) sailing vessels, (4) fishing vessels registered in Éire under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1891, on the 1st September, 1939; the number and tonnage of such ships whose registration has been withdrawn since that date; and the number and tonnage of such of these vessels as the Government has given consent to the withdrawal of their registration here, and the reasons for the granting by the Government of such consent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Registration of Ships.
There are a number of figures in this reply and I do not propose to read the figures. They will appear in the Official Report. I will only read the note at the end.
The following is the complete answer:—
Particulars of the vessels registered in Éire under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, are as follows:—
|
Registered at 1st Sept., 1939 |
Removed from Register since 1st Sept., 1939 |
Removals to which Minister's consent was required |
||||
|
No. |
Gross Tonnage |
No. |
Gross Tonnage |
No. |
Gross Tonnage |
|
|
Steam Vessels |
123 |
68,863 |
11 |
18,968 |
10 |
17,511 |
|
Motor Vessels |
365 |
88,494 |
7 |
65,277 |
7 |
65,277 |
|
Sailing Vessels |
92 |
5,464 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
Fishing Vessels |
1,549 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
The gross tonnage of the fishing vessels registered is not available.
The vessels transferred with the consent of the Government were owned by two companies incorporated in Great Britain. One company was an undertaking of which possession had been taken by the British Government in connection with the prosecution of the war and it was considered that it would be anomalous to retain such vessels on the Irish register. The trade for which the vessels of the other company were originally constructed had not materialised and the vessels have been engaged since their construction in trades for which normally vessels would not be registered at Irish ports.