CO129-619-3 Marine Court of Inquiry to investigate stranding of S.S. HONG KHENG- proceedings 1-7-1947 - 31-7-1947 — Page 20

(3).

EVIDENCE OF CAPTAIN LAWRENCE VIVIAN

ROWE Sworn.

20

My name is Lawrence Vivian Rowe and I am

Master of the S.S. "Hunan".

I have been on the China Coast Trade fo 26

years of which I have been 16 years in command.

on the morning of the 19th July the "Human" was in the vicinity of Turtle Rocka bound for Swatow.

At 7.15 A.M. I received a distress sigral from the "Hong Kheng" and proceeded at once to her assistance. I took on board 414 passengers and crew from the "Hong Khang". Soundings taken between the Ninepin and Chilang Point would give an indication

of an inshore set.

I have experienced an abnormal set and drift and Bast at North of Hong Kong following the passing of a Tropical Revolving Storm.

The set between the Ninepin and Chilang Point at this time of the year is usually parallelto the coast S. W. but is subject to typhoon influence.

Between the Ninepin and Chilang Point I

have never experienced a greater inshore set and drift than 2 miles. From the Ninepin to Chilang Point I set course N74° E (True) at 1700 hours on the 18th. I was able to check my position up to 2030 hours and experienced no inshore set. A latér

position off Turtle Rock indicated I had been set in about 6 miles.

I never saw Chilang Point.

The foregoing is a true record of the evidere I have given

så. L. V. Rowe.

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