(1).
EVIDIN CE OF CAPTAIN DOUGLAS RONALD
BANNERMAN Sworn.
12
My name is Douglas Ronald Bannerman, and I was
Master of the S.S. "Hong Kheng" at the time of the
casualty.
My certificate is a Master's Foreign Going
(steamship) No. 22725 issued at Liverpool on the 23rd
day of January, 1928.
I left buoy A4 at about 1830 (H.K. Summer Time)
on the evening of the 18th July, 1947, at 1930 hours
we were off Taikoo Doek. At 2042 hours the South Nine-
pin was bearing N7 W (True) distant 2 miles. I gave instruction for the course to be set N75° E (True). I
remained on the bridge until he was placed on that course and I referred to the deviation book and scap log book
for previous errors. On one voyage we had had an error 1°w and on two previous voyages Ml error. I decided
to allow nothing on this occasion as the wind was slightly
on the port bow. I was anxious regarding the weather in
view of the depression which was in the vicinity at the
time. In view of the weather I instructed the officer
of the watch to read the barometer every hour. After
this I went down below and returned to the bridge at
showed
2230 hours. The barometer should a tendency to rise
and the sky was clearer. After giving careful instruc-
tions, to the officer of the watch to call me if the
barometer fell or conditions worsened, I gave instruc-
tions to be called at 4.0 A.M. I went below for a rest.
at 0250 I awoke and returned to the bridge. The baro-
meter was perceptibly rising by this time. I had a
word with the Chief officer, and questioned him regarding
two white lights first on the starboard bow. He replied
that "they were vessels which had overtaken us",