It was alleged by the plaintiffs that during that voyage a quantity of water in the No. 2 hold could not be removed by reason of a defective bilge pumping system. The water had derived from an excessively wet cargo of coal. It was further alleged that quantities of sugar which also remained in the hold became dissolved and approximately 400 tons of 10mm aggregate, which was stowed in the hold, became contaminated. As a result it was alleged much of the concrete made from that basalt failed to set properly, causing substantial damage to the plaintiffs.