Only five years after Bute East Dock had been fully opened the Bute Trustees (the 3rd Marquis was still a minor) had two applications to build more dock capacity turned aside by Parliament.
By 1866 congestion was so bad that vessels were waiting four days to enter the docks and at times this meant that more than 300 ships were waiting offshore. Again Parlimentary powers were sought but only a reduced scheme was sanctioned for the dock basin and low water pier. The pier was opened in 1868 with work on the dock basin continiung until the summer of 1874. A dry dock was included in the work as well as the Junction Lock connecting through to Bute East Dock. A second dry dock was added later.
Roath Basin is 1000 feet long and 525 feet wide covering 12 acres. The sea lock was 80 feet wide and able to accommodate the largest vessels of that time.
Even before the Basin was opened, Parliament approved a scheme for the linked Roath Dock.
Work on this was delayed by a dispute with the railway companies. Work was commenced in 1883 by the Marquis himself and the dock opened in 1887.
Roath Dock is 2400 feet long and 600 feet wide covering 33 acres.
The complex was intended to handle imports as well as the ever growing export of coal.
A lairage handled the import and export of livestock and Crown Patent Fuel works supplied vessels including SS Terra Nova on its way with Captain Scott to the Antarctic.
