asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether, in the last 12 months, any ships, which would normally have come to and been unloaded at the port of Dublin, have been diverted to any other port for such unloading; and, if so, how many such ships were diverted and at what ports they were unloaded.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Diversion of Shipping.
No control is exercised at present over the port of discharge of ships engaged on the cross-Channel trade. The shortage of tonnage made it necessary to exercise a measure of control over the ships employed in the cross-Channel coal trade from May, 1944, to July, 1945. During that time it was essential to secure the quick turn-round of these vessels. For that reason, a greater proportion of coal cargoes were discharged at Dublin than would otherwise have been the case.
The port of discharge of the Irish ocean-going ships is fixed for each voyage by the shipping company concerned in consultation with my Department. The aim is to use the port which is most convenient for the bulk of the cargo on board but other considerations, such as repair facilities, arise occasionally. The port of Dublin has been receiving a fair share of this shipping.