Powers of the Admiralty – Drastic Action at Portland.

April 1910

Sheffield Evening Telegraph – Saturday 09 April 1910

Powers of the Admiralty.

Drastic Action at Portland.

Yesterday afternoon the King’s Harbourmaster at Portland took forcible possession of the steamship Persia, belonging to the Denaby and Cadeby Main Colliery Company, and towed the vessel outside the Admiralty area to open water under Nothe Fort, Weymouth. The Persia was boarded by officer and party of bluejackets, and. with a Government tug on either side, the vessel was expelled from the roadstead.

This action on the part of the Admiralty (says the London Telegraph) was due the decision- of the High Court, who ruled that the bed of Portland harbour belonged to the Admiralty, and consequently the owners the Persia had not the right to supply bunker coal to steamers without the sanction the King’s Harbourmaster, or to take up permanent moorings without permission. In view of an appeal, the Admiralty allowed the steamer to remain at Portland pending the decision, on condition that the owners put no more coal on board the ship.

The arrangement was agreed to, but this week, is reported, the Persia shipped some 2,000 tons, and on this breach of the arrangement. Captain Anson the Admiralty representative, put into force the powers conferred upon him by Act of Parliament interpreted the High Court.