A spectacular trip up the Thames was made by the tug " Britannia " , drawing attention to the fact that it carried a petition to Parliament asking for a public inquiry into the conditions of service of certificated navigating and engineering officers in the merchant navy . The tug was met at Westminster Pier by members of Parliament who accompanied the petition to the House of Commons for formal presentation . Photo shows ; Colonel Moore Brabazon , MP for Wallasey , Cheshire ( right ) and Mr P J Hannon ( left ) welcoming the petition as it was unloaded at Westminster Pier and carried across to the Houses of Parliament . 30 November 1933