On the 23rd of June I posted some close up photographs of the ss Waratah with one photo of the port side showing no Plimsoll markings or load lines. I made mention of the fact but in doing so did not mean to imply the markings were never painted on the ships side in the first place, the markings were compulsory by law and if there were none painted on the ship she would have been prevented from sailing from London. The photograph is of poor quality and combined with  lighting conditions does not show enough detail of the hull, by enhancing the photograph to a high magnification I have managed see part of what was the plimsoll mark. The reason for the indistinct marking is due to the paint being worn off in rough seas and high winds, salt crystals have a very high abrasive effect and act as a liquid form of surface blasting.

The white circle shows the part of the plimsoll marks directly under the out board discharge which would also assist in the paint fading.

                             Rust can also help for poor identification on badly maintained ships

         
                                                         Statue of Samuel Plimsoll in Bristol. 

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