Harbour Bridge security guard Alusine Kamara said he had seen the [Pam Burridge] travelling “faster than normal”.

Investigating officer Detective Senior Constable Brett Prentice said he had formed the view that the masters of both vessels had failed in their duties in providing lookouts, travelling at inappropriate speeds (either too slow in the case of [Merinda] or too fast in the case of the ferry) despite being in a crowded part of the harbour with known difficulties.

THE Sydney Harbour ferry and the 10m wooden boat involved in a March 2007 fatal late-night collision had not posted proper lookouts and were both travelling at inappropriate speeds, a Sydney court heard yesterday.

The inquest into the deaths of four people, all of whom were passengers on recreational boat Merinda, was told the smaller boat did not have its navigation lights on when it was sliced in half by the ferry under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Water taxi driver Mark Williams, said he had seen the ferry Pam Burridge come out of Sydney Cove, speed up and then come to a sudden stop.

“I took notice of this because he stopped so suddenly, he came out doing eight knots, then flattened it full throttle to get home,” Mr Williams said.

Harbour Bridge security guard Alusine Kamara said he had seen the Pam Burridge travelling “faster than normal”.

He had heard a loud bang and had immediately alerted his superiors. Mr Kamara confirmed it had been a clear night and visibility had been excellent.

Investigating officer Detective Senior Constable Brett Prentice said he had formed the view that the masters of both vessels had failed in their duties in providing lookouts, travelling at inappropriate speeds (either too slow in the case of Merinda or too fast in the case of the ferry) despite being in a crowded part of the harbour with known difficulties.

“It is an area of known vessel congestion … an area of darkness. Both masters had failed to maintain a proper lookout,” Constable Prentice said.

“I formed the view that if the speed had been something else, there may have been time to react,” he said.

Ice-skater Morgan Innes, 14, ice-skating judges Simone Moore and Alan Blinn, and Dr Blinn’s friend James Engert were killed in the crash.

The inquest resumes today.

Credit: John Stapleton