TABLE III.

Appendix III. of Rules for Life-saving Appliances (1914).

MINIMUM NUMBER OF SETS OF DAVITS REQUIRED TO BE PROVIDED IN A STEAM. SHIP IN CLASS V., HOME TRADE, IN CERTAIN CASES.

In the case of a steamship of over 360 feet, the number of sets of davits to be provided shall be prescribed by the Board of Trade.

TABLE IV.

MINIMUM AGGREGATE CUBIC CAPACITY OF LIFEBOATS TO BE CARRIED IN A STEAMSHIP IN CLASS V., HOME TRADE, LAUNCHED ON OR AFTER THE 1ST MARCH, 1913, IN CERTAIN CASES.

In the case of a steamship of under 100, or over 360 feet, the cubic capacity of the lifeboats to be carried shall be prescribed by the Board of Trade.

Class VI. Steamships certified to carry passengers on short excursions to sea, i.e. beyond partially smooth water limits, between 1st April and 31st October inclusive, during daylight, and in fine

weather.

The registered length of vessel governs the number of sets of

davits to be provided and which are specified in Table V. (see below).

Each set of davits must have a lifeboat of Class I. attached to it. This class of vessel is also subjected to the provisions of General Rule 20 (1) of the Life-saving Appliances Rules, a copy of which will be found on p. 6.

The number of sets of davits need not exceed the number of boats required to accommodate the total number of persons carried, or which the ship is certified to carry, whichever number is the greater.

The lifeboats must be of reasonable capacity, having regard to the size and design of vessel. The boat arrangement must receive the approval of the Board of Trade.

The aggregate capacity of the lifeboats need not be greater than is required to accommodate the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry.

If the regulation number of boats is insufficient to accommodate the total number of persons carried on board, or certified to be carried, then additional lifeboats or approved life-rafts, approved buoyant deck-seats, or other approved buoyant apparatus must be provided, as shall be sufficient, together with the lifeboats already provided in accordance with Table V., for 70 per cent. of the total number of persons for which the ship is certified. Class VII.-Steamships certified to carry passengers in partially

smooth waters.

The same regulations govern the life-saving equipment of vessels of this class as in vessels of Class VI., except that the percentage for provision of lifeboats, life-rafts, etc., is 60 instead

of 70.

TABLE V.

Appendix IV. of Rules for Life-saving Appliances (1914). MINIMUM NUMBER OF SETS OF DAVITS REQUIRED TO BE PROVIDED IN A STEAM

SHIP OF CLASS VI. OR CLASS VII., HOME TRADE.

In the case of a steamship of over 320 feet, the number of sets of davits to

be provided shall be prescribed by the Board of Trade.

C

Class VIII.-Steamships certified to carry passengers in smooth waters in estuaries and lakes.

A ship of this class, if not under 70 feet but under 150 feet in length, must carry at least one boat; and if 150 feet or more in length, at least two boats.

The boats must be attached to davits.

Including the before-mentioned boat or boats the vessel must also carry such boats, approved life-rafts, approved buoyant deck-seats, or other approved buoyant apparatus, as shall be sufficient to accommodate 40 per cent. of the total number of persons for which the ship is certified.

It will be noticed that no particular class of boat is specified, and invariably an ordinary boat or boats without buoyancy air-cases (Class III.) are supplied and fitted under davits.

There may be particular cases where the arrangements on the upper deck are such as to make it impracticable to carry out the statutory requirements; consequently, the Board of Trade may, in their discretion, relieve a ship of this class wholly or partially from the operation of the rules.

Class IX. Steamships certified to carry passengers in smooth water on rivers or canals.

A ship of this class, if not under 70 feet in length, shall carry a boat in such a position that it can readily be placed in the water. In addition to this boat, the vessel must carry such boats, approved life-rafts, approved buoyant deck-seats, or other approved buoyant apparatus, as shall be sufficient to accommodate 40 per cent. of the total number of persons for which the ship is certified.

A vessel less than 70 feet length must carry boats, approved buoyant apparatus, etc., for 40 per cent. of the total number of persons certified to be carried; but here, again, the particulars of the vessel's deck arrangements have to be specially considered and the matter must be submitted to the Board of Trade, who may in their discretion relieve the ship of some of these obligatory provisions.

Class X.-Steam launches and motor boats certified to carry passengers for short distances to sea.

A ship of this class, if over 60 feet in length, must comply with the same regulations which govern vessels of similar length in

Class VIII. of the Home Trade. Vessels of 60 feet in length and under are not required to carry boats, but must be provided with two lifebuoys, and an approved life-jacket for each person and child on board. These provisions are considered sufficient to cover all reasonable circumstances.

Class XI. Sailing boats carrying more than twelve passengers for short distances to sea.

A ship of this class, if over 60 feet in length, must comply with rules regulating the life-saving equipment of vessels in Class III. of the Home Trade.

If the vessel is 60 feet or under in length, two lifebuoys must be provided, and an approved life-jacket for each person and child carried on board. These provisions are in lieu of a boat.

Class XII.-Steam fish carriers, tugs, steam lighters, dredgers, steam hoppers, hulks, and barges, which proceed to sea.

A ship of this class shall comply with the rules in Class II. of the Home Trade.

Vessels which are towed from one port to another, say from Belfast to Glasgow, for the purpose of having their machinery installed, come within the operation of these rules for life-saving equipment, and are considered for the time being as hulks which proceed to sea.

Class XIII.-Steam fish carriers, tugs, steam lighters, dredgers steam hoppers, hulks, and barges, which do not proceed to sea.

A ship of this class must carry a boat sufficient to accommodate all persons on board.

General Remarks. The foregoing quotations are based upon the regulations contained in the Rules for Life-saving Appliances of 1914, and apply to new vessels, and vessels under construction since that date. Various deviations had to be made from these rules to suit the requirements of vessels whose keels were laid before certain specified dates, but reference has not been made in this section to such vessels.

The writer has endeavoured to use the language of the rules, with explanatory notes to assist the reader to clearly understand the varied and often confusing-requirements which must be carefully considered when preparing the arrangements for

accommodating the boats and installing the davits. It is an advantage to the shipbuilder to always submit plans for the consideration of the Board of Trade at the earliest possible date.

Each country must draw up its own classification of vessels to suit the local conditions, but the principles approved by the International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea are now being practically adhered to by most of the representative nations.

The regulations issued by the Board of Supervising Inspectors of the United States of America, are divided into four parts, viz. (1) ocean and coastwise; (2) great lakes; (3) lakes other than the great lakes, bays, and sounds; and (4) rivers.

It should be remembered that any boat which forms part of the statutory equipment of a British vessel, must not be less than 125 cubic feet in capacity.

Where it is found impossible in a small vessel to provide proper facilities for stowing and handling a boat of this capacity, then application must be made to the Board of Trade, who may, in their discretion, allow a boat of smaller capacity to be carried on the vessel, provided it is large enough to accommodate all persons carried on board.

This is a question which must be left to the practical experience of the surveyor who is dealing with the vessel. Each individual case is dealt with on its merits, for it is obvious in the case of small coasting, sailing, or auxiliary motor vessels, that it is very difficult to carry out the statutory requirements in their entirety.

In the United States of America the limiting size for ocean and coastwise vessels is 180 cub. ft., except in certain classes of vessels under 1000 tons gross, a reduction is made to 125 cub. ft., and again where certain steamers of 400 tons gross and under, operating within 5 miles of land and there is lack of space to properly carry a boat of 125 cub. ft., permission is given for a boat of smaller size, but it must be large enough and of suitable character to carry every person on board.

SECTION B.-CLASSIFICATION OF BOATS.

Ships' boats vary in type and design; but for the purpose of appropriating a particular type of boat to suit the requirements of each class of vessel, they are divided into two main groups, viz. "Open" boats and "Pontoon" boats.

To simplify the administration of the Rules for Life-saving