(7).
EVIDENCE OF ALFRED HEREDRT WARD
2ND ENGINEER OF THE "HONG KHENG " Swarn.
26
My name is Alfred Herbert Ward and I
was 2nd Engineer of the "Hong Kheng" at the time of
the stranding. I hold a 2nd Class B.0.T. Engineers
Certificate of Competency. We felt nothing in the
Our
engine room when the "Hong Kheng" stranded.
first knowledge of the casualty was when the Chief
Engineer spoke by voicepipe to instruct us to put
the general service pump on Nos. 1 and 2 holds.
At 0353 we got "stop" immediately
followed by "Full Astern". We received "Stop" again
around 4.0 A.M. The entire engine room crew remained
calm and carried out all orders.
We were able to supply light right up to
about 1.30 P.M. on the 19th July, 1947, when the
engine room became flooded.
The "Hong Kheng" had reciprocating
engines, and reversal time would take about a minute.
foregoing
The following is a true
record of the evidence I have given.
sa. A.H. Ward.