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in the fire system regurgitated with a reverse flow into the fresh water supply which was serving
both ships.
Your Medical Officer, Chief Sanitary Inspector and Mr. Madeley, together with officials of the
shipping company concerned, visited the other vessel which was still in dock and it was decided
to super-chlorinate all her tanks, then empty and open them for cleaning before refilling. This
was possible since the vessel was discharged of all cargo and the tanks were, therefore, accessible.
Meanwhile the dock mains were chlorinated and thoroughly flushed through before the vessel's
tanks were replenished.
The incident proved the point that there is always a grave risk attached to coupling a fresh
water hose directly to a closed water circuit aboard a ship except under supervision by a responsible
officer who fully understands the complications of the various watering systems and
their couplings.
It was decided at the meeting aboard the ship to recommend that no such connection should be
made in future and that the "sprinkler" supply connection and method of emergency supply should
be reconsidered.
The whole question of dock water supplies was being actively investigated by your Inspectors
and discussed at Conferences attended by representatives of all the interested parties at the
time this Report closed and the results will be reported in the next Annual Report.
VISITORS AND STUDENTS
The activities of the Port Health Authority have always been of outstanding interest and
value to visitors from overseas engaged in port health administration and during the year fifteen
visitors, either doctors or sanitary inspectors, from British Guiana, Canada, Egypt, Israel,
Indonesia, Korea, Persia, Philippines, South Africa, Tanganyika, Spain, Tunisia and the United
States of America, were at the request of the Ministry of Health, Colonial Office, British Council
and other Departments, shown various branches of port health work in London.
Facilities were also provided for students of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine, the Royal Institute of Public Health, the Army School of Health and the National
College of Food Technology, to see aspects of port health work relating to their studies.
LAUNCHES AND STATION HULKS
During the past year, performances have been very satisfactory. Except for the repair interval
on the "ALFRED ROACH", regular services at both Stations have been maintained efficiently
without any interruption due to mechanical or structural defect, and normal working arrangements
have been carried out smoothly in the absence of any misadventure or appreciable sickness among
the crews. Every decision concerning the efficiency of the Service has been associated with
expediency and economy, sparing no effort to maintain high standards of performance and appearance.
No vessel has been withdrawn from duty for refitting, though all have received care and maintenance
such as painting, running repairs and adjustments by the crews; only the "HYGEIA '
has received a major overhaul, which is to be the subject of a separate Report.
The time has come to prepe-e a 'defect list' for m.l. "HOWARD DEIGHTON" which was
refitted previously in 1952, and should be docked for a refit early this year.
Consideration should be given later to the other launches that were refitted in 1953, and where
any outstanding defects may need correction before a major refit, especially those defects
capable of repair possibly without disrupting the normal routine or beaching the launches for
underwater maintenance.
"Uplees"
This converted 'sailing barge', now 58 years old, has not been a source of any expenditure
other than coal for heating and cooking, paraffin for lighting and consumable stores for cleaning
and painting.
The general condition is satisfactory. Nothing more will be done to this hulk other than emergency
demands.
"Hygeia"
The major refit by John Ratzer of Gravesend has now been completed. It is noteworthy that
this hulk has not been dry-docked for underwater survey for more than 20 years and, furthermore,
a slight leakage from the shell plating of the starboard quarter has been discovered duringthe
refitting and is located at a point 3 feet below the waterline. This leakage has been temporarily
stopped with a 'cement-box' patch. Needless to add, no further ivestigation of the plate thick
ness was advisable at the defective area or any other underwater plates. This incident does
indicate, however, that the time is approaching when an underwater survey will be necessary,
although such action will cause a temporary dislocation of the organisation at the Gravesend
Station.
"Howard Deighton"
The behaviour of this launch is satisfactory and the starboard engine has continued to run
with improved efficiency since the new timing wheels were fitted. The same improvementis
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