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"I am, of course, most anxious to avoid taking any legal action against shipping using
the Port of London and it would I feel be helpful to us both if you could make known to
Owners and Masters of ships registered in your country, in whatever way you consider best, the
legal requirement to restrict smoke emission while in the Port of London and, indeed, in any
port in the United Kingdom.
"If I find a case of smoke emission from one of your Country's ships, such as may compel
me to consider taking legal action against the Owners or Master, I will send you a copy of the
official intimation so that you may be aware of the offence. Nevertheless, I sincerely hope
that this will not be necessary.
"May I take this opportunity of thanking you in advance for your co-operation.
Yours faithfully,
J. Greenwood Wilson, M.D., F.R.C.P.,
Medical Officer of Health,
Port and City of London."
Replies received showed that in nearly all cases the Consuls-General communicated the text
of the letter to their home governments for circulation to shipping Departments and Companies.
Further, on the 19th June 1958, Mr. Town Clerk on the instructions of the Port and City of
London Health Committee, wrote to the Chief Examiner, Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation,
pointing out that the Committee were of opinion that it would be helpful if the examination department
of the Ministry introduced into the curriculum for Engineroom Officers of the MerchantNavy,
details of the requirements of the Clean Air Act.
The following reply was received from the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation.
18th July, 1958.
"Dear Sir,
"I have given careful consideration to your letter of the 19th June 1958, and the need to
spread knowledge of the Clean Air Act.
"How best to do this is frankly a little difficult, the examination syllabuses are already
overcrowded and cover all aspects of combustion. The causes of smoke were highlighted
during the war years by the Examiners for the safety of convoys, and after the war for maximum
efficiency to save fuel.
"These efforts however were of a passing character difficult to sustain. It is felt, therefore,
a more permanent effort to reach all the engineroom staff is required, and the Ministry will
ask the Technical Colleges to explain the requirements of the Clean Air Act so far as Shipping
is concerned to young engineers preparing for the Ministry's Second Class examinations and
also the Ministry's Examiners in the ports to highlight the subject as opportunity arises.
Yours faithfully,
(Sgd.) STEWART HOGG,
Chief Examiner of Engineers.
E.H. Nichols, T.D., 8.A., LL.B.
Town Clerk,
Corporation of London,
Guildhall, London, E.C.2."
In October 1958 a special 'briefing' meeting was convened for the Port Health Inspectors to
discuss and decide the final details of procedure to give practical effect to the Act and the
Regulations in the light of the experience so far gained.
At the meeting the Port Health Inspectors were made familiar with the administrative procedure
(including the use of relevant printed documents) to be used in following up their observations
whether by Ringelmann Card or 'Telesmoke'. They were also advised on the personal
approach to apparent offenders, collection of data, and the service of Statutory Notices.
The most important issue was to decide immediate policy. It was concluded that it would be
wiser vigorously to attack BLACK SMOKE first and to continue to discourage DARK SMOKE by
all means available short of legal action unless the incidents were of a serious nature. In all
cases the details of the incident were to be recorded on the appropriate form and sent to the
Central Office for scrutiny and final decision. The Regulations state that "in no case shall
BLACK SMOKE be emitted for more than 3 minutes in the aggregate in any period of 30 minutes".
As to the Act itself, Sections 1 and 2 are probably those which levy most responsibility on
vessels. They are also the sections that list the conditions and circumstances that provide a
defence' in the event of a prosecution. These are indeed, a formidable list that will tax the
knowledge and experience of any Port Health Inspector involved in legal proceedings.
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