The
South Wales Atlantic Steamship Company, (limited,)
1 Dock
Chambers, Cardiff
,
February 23, 1875.
The Assistant Secretary
Marine Department, Board of Trade.
[Inclosure.]
South Wales Atlantic Steamship Company, (Limited,)
Cardiff
,
February 23,
1875.
Sir: In reply to your communication of the
19th instant, addressed to the secretary of this company, we, the
undersigned commanders of the steamships Glamorgan and Pembroke,
taking your questions in the order you present them, beg to state we
are acquainted with the sound-signals used on shipboard in the
United States, and consider they greatly conduce to safety.
- 1.
- The draft-rule in your letter of the 19th instant virtually
embodies the system in use in the United States, and we believe
its adoption would be a great benefit to the royal navy and
mercantile marine.
- 2.
- The application and interpretation could not be more easy or
simple.
- 3.
- Most decidedly, and the more intricate the navigation the more
advantageous it would be.
- 4.
- Quite sufficient.
- 5.
- No.
- 6.
- We cannot see any reason why it should be restricted to foggy
weather; to do so would lessen its advantages. We have now
occasionally to vary from the usual custom of porting according
to article 19, and it certainly would greatly relieve anxiety
and conduce to safety if we could be assured by sound that an
approaching ship appreciated our position and intentions. Sounds
should indicate intended movements as well in clear as in foggy
weather, and particularly in narrow waters.
In conclusion, we respectfully suggest that the vessel first
signalizing by sounds should have the right of way. This is the
custom in the United States.
We are, &c.,
- JOSEPH LAYBOURNE,
Commander
Steamship Glamorgan.
- H. C. WILLIAMS,
Commander
Steamship Pembroke.
The Assistant Secretary
Board of Trade, Marine Department.
