2.
20
before or after their construction is 1 knot -
the physical
conditions are not such as should cause undue navigational
difficulties in the approach and departure of the ferry vessels,
more especially to those navigators who have acquired some experience in this service, although the designs of these
craft, with their shallow draught and comparatively large wind- surface, must render them somewhat unwieldly and awkward to
handle in a strong breeze.
5.
Moreover,
The designs to which the main structures of the
landings were originally constructed are substantial and, ordinarily, should have given complete satisfaction.
the character and arrangement of the fendering adopted were
on an elaborate scale and should, in normal circumstances,
have proved sufficient.
6.
The fact that, nevertheless, damage to the landings, and movement in the gantry foundations at Jubilee Street, has on occasions been caused, I attribute mainly to the conditions
under which the ferry service is operated. Having regard to
the results of the recent survey of the rubble foundations and the adjacent sea-bed, the structural movements which have occurred cannot be deemed due to settlement of the rubble and
upheaval of the harbour bed, as we had previously suggested as being possible, but must have been caused by the violent shocks to which the structure has been subjected by the ferry
vessels.
7.
Under the present time-table and with the number
of vessels now in the service, the barest minimum of time is
allowed for the turn round of the ferries, with the consequence
that the operation of docking has to be executed with undue speed, and damage to the fendering and movement in the main
structure must occasionally be caused. An increase in this
period of merely two or three minutes would enable more time
to