After a false start the day before, the ship was moved successfully on 13 April 1949, in spite of what was obviously a great risk. "Conway" remains by far the deepest ship ever to have passed through the Swellies. Her draft was aft and the underwater clearances were marginal. The overhead clearance under Menai Suspension Bridge, which is above high water, was estimated to be three feet, all depending upon the actual height of the tide at the time of passing through. "I was glad when it was accomplished," Captain Goddard wrote. "It created a great deal of interest amongst the North Wales seafaring fraternity who had declared the undertaking to be a foolish one."