CO129-619-3 Marine Court of Inquiry to investigate stranding of S.S. HONG KHENG- proceedings 1-7-1947 - 31-7-1947 — Page 13

13

(1)±

and that the 2nd officer had told him that he thought

they were naval craft. At this stage I left the

bridge reiterating my orders to be called at 4.0 A.M.

At 0340 hours I again awoke and went to the bridge

and discussed the altering course position with the

Chief Officer. I decided to let the vessel run on

her present course until daylight when I hoped to

pick up a bearing. On the starboard beam at this

time about 1 miles away was another vessel which I

think was the "Orient City" bound west. I told the

Chief Officer to write up his log book and I took

over the watch. The Chief Officer went to the port

wing to write up the log book and I went to the star-

board wing. Very soon after I had commenced to

keep a lookout I saw something in the glasses which

I could not at first believe. A second glance, however,

showed me that these were rocks and breakers on the

starboard bow. I immediately shouted to the Chief

Officer to stop what he was doing and come over to

look. He dashed across the bridge and a onfirmed

what I saw, The Chief officer suggested "hard a

order port" - I agreed -- and he gave the sder -and saw the

helm put over. I remained at the open window and

watched the ship's head swung to part. As well as

the original rock on the starboard bow I now saw more

rocks ahead of m. I rang down stop followed by full

astern on both engines. A little afterwards - say

2 or 3 minutes we felt the ship strike apparently

in line with the foremast. Although she was firmly

held at this point both the bow and stern were swing-

ing and I was off the opinion that very little would

have been required to free her. But I docked in the

best interests of the passengers it would have

EVER