CON
53
EXPERT OPINION BE CASE YACHT "TAVY IT" VERSIE S.S."CUI TAI".
We the undersigned Nautical experts in this Colony Lave read the
cial Record of the Case Vacht "avy IT" versus s/s "Sul "al"
Chd are of this opinion.
1.
2.
s.
But a five Was inflicted. they are still wh satisfied. 5.
This Case si uld never have been brought into Court, and
could easily have been settled in the Harbour Master's
Cffice, the Harbour Master, Comdr. G.F.Tule, R.N. (Red),
who is the Marine Magistrate should have refused to issue
the summons.
The Magistrale, e ionued the summons, the prosecutor,
and the witness, for the prosecution were all Officers of
the Royal Navy, the first two on the Retired List, the
arbour Master and the Deputy Harbour Master respectivel,,
and the witness, an office of H.M. Ducky and.
The defendont is a Commander (Retired), Royal Naval Reserve
of exemplary record with 32 years experience ns al Officer
of Selling and Steamships; we together with all other
Officers of the Merchant Navy from Hongkong, are emphatically
of the opinion, that Commander T.Pritchard, R.D., "..R.
used hip experience to the best of his ability, and considered
that it was pafe to cross ahead of this Yacht, that there
was a good clearance and no risk of collision.
Que opinion
is based on the evidence and diagram, had the Yacht be en in
the close proximity which she was said to be, there would
have been a collision, for the s/s "Cui Tai", under the
full swing of helm hard aport, would have struck the
"Tavy IT", with her port quarter.
This point being wrong grave doubt is thrown on the rest
of the evidence.
Tf there was an error of judgment, widen we consider there
was not, nu fine should have been inflicted,
We therefore very strongly urge that this Cewe be brought
to the notice of the proper authority with a view to it
being quasued and deleted from the records.
(Signe turas over)