MERCHANT SHIPPING (LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES). RULES MADE BY THE BOARD OF TRADE UNDER "THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1894." (See Schedule 17 to that Act.)

For the purposes of these rules, British ships shall be arranged into the following classes :

DIVISION (A).-Class 1.-Steamships carrying emigrant pas. sengers, subject to all the provisions of the "Passengers Acts." Class 2.-Foreign-going steamships having passenger certificates under the "Merchant Shipping Acts." Class 3-Steamships having passenger certificates under the "Merchant Shipping Acts authorising them to carry passengers anywhere within the hometrade limits; that is to say, between places in the United Kingdom, or between the United Kingdom and ports in Europe between the River Elbe and Brest. Class 4.-Foreign-going steamships rot certified to carry passengers.

DIVISION (B).- Class 1.-Sailing ships carrying emigrant passengers subject to all the provisions of the "Passengers Acts." Class 2.-Foreign-going sailing ships carrying passengers, but not subject to all the provisions of the " Passengers Acts. Class 3-Foreigngoing sailing ships not carrying passengers. Class 4.-Sailing ships carrying passengers anywhere within the home trade limits.

Class

DIVISION (C).-Class 1.-Steamships not certified to carry passengers plying anywhere within the home-trade limits. 2.Sailing ships in the same trades not carrying passengers.

DIVISION (D).-Class 1.-Steamships having passenger certificates authorising them to carry passengers within certain specified limits of the home-trade; that is to say, on short specified passages along the coasts of the United Kingdom, or between Great Britain and Ireland, or between Great Britain or Ireland and the Isle of Man. Class 2.-Steamships carrying passengers in estuaries or mouths of rivers, or on short excursions or pleasure trips to sea. Class 3-Steamships not certified to carry passengers, but employed solely in the coasting trade. Class 4.-Sailing ships not carrying passengers, but employed solely in the coasting trade. Class 5Steam fish carriers, tug boats, and steam lighters which proceed to Class 6.-Steam launches proceeding for short distances to sea. DIVISION (E)-Class 1.-Steamships carrying passengers on rivers, lakes, or land-locked inland waters, but not going to sea or into rough waters. Class 2.-Tug-boats and steam lighters which do not proceed to sea. Class 3-Hulks, dredgers, steam-hoppers, &c., which proceed to sea and which do not proceed to sea.

sea.

DIVISION (A).-CLASS I.-Rules for Steamships carrying Emigrant Passengers, subject to all the Provisions of the "Passengers Acts.' (a) Ships of Division (A), Class 1, shall carry boats placed under davits, fit and ready for use, and having proper appliances for getting them into the water, in number and capacity as prescribed by the Table in the Appendix to these Rules; such boats shall be equipped in the manner required by and shall be of the description defined in the General Rules appended hereto.

(b) Masters or owners of ships of this class claiming to carry fewer boats under davits than are given in the Table must declare before the collector or other officer of Customs, at the time of clearance, that the boats actually placed under davits are sufficient to accommodate all persons on board, allowing 10 (ten) cubic feet of boat capacity for each adult person, or statute adult."

(c) Not less than half the number of boats placed under davits having at least half the cubic capacity required by the Tables shall be boats of Section (A) or Section (B). The remaining boats may also be of such description, or may, in the option of the shipowner, conform to Section (C), or Section (D), provided that not more than two boats shall be of Section (D).

(d) If the boats placed under davits in accordance with the Table do not furnish sufficient accommodation for all persons on board, then additional wood, metal, collapsible or other boats of approved description (whether placed under davits or otherwise) or approved life rafts shall be carried. One of these boats may be a steam launch; but in that case the space occupied by the engines and boilers is not to be included in the estimated cubic capacity of the boat.

Subject to the provisions contained in paragraph (ƒ) of these rules, such additional boats or rafts shall be of at least such carrying capacity that they and the boats required to be placed under davits by the Table provide together in the aggregate in vessels of 5,000 tons gross and upwards, three-fourths, and in vessels of less than 5,000 tons gross, one-half, more than the minimum cubic contents required by column 3 of that Table. For this purpose 3 cubic feet of air case in the life raft is to be estimated as 10 cubic feet of internal capacity. Provided always that the rafts will accommodate all the persons for which they are to be certified under the Rules, and also have 3 cubic feet of air case for each person.

All such additional boats or rafts shall be placed as conveniently for being available as the ship's arrangements admit of, having regard to the avoidance of undue encumbrance of the ship's deck, and to the safety of the ship for her voyage.

(e) In addition to the life-saving appliances before mentioned, ships of this Class shall carry not less than one approved life-buoy for every boat placed under davits. They shall also carry approved life-belts, or other similar approved articles of equal buoyancy, suitable for being worn on the person, so that there may be at least one for each person on board the ship.

(ƒ) Provided, nevertheless, that no ship of this class shall be re quired to carry more boats or rafts than will furnish sufficien ccommodation for all persons on board.

DIVISION (A).-CLASS 2.-Rules for Foreign-going Steamships having Passenger Certificates under the "Merchant Shipping

Acts.

Ships of this Class shall be subject to the same requirements as those in Division (A), Class I.

DIVISION (A).-CLASS 3.-Rules for Steamships having Passenger Certificates under the "Merchant Shipping Acts" authorising them to carry Passengers anywhere within the Home-Trade

limits; that is to say, between places in the United Kingdom or between the United Kingdom and Ports in Europe between the River Elbe and Brest.

(a) Ships of this class shall carry boits placed under davits in acco dance with the Table.

(6) Masters or owners of ships of this class claiming to carry fewer boats under davits than are given in the Table must declare before the collector or other officer of Customs that the boats actually placed under davis are sufficient to accommodate all persons on board, allowing 10 (ten) cubic feet of boat capacity for each adult person, or statute adult."

(c) Not less than half the number of boats placed under davits shall be boats of Section (A), or Section (B). The remaining boats may also be of such description, or may, in the option of the shipowner, conform to Section (C), or Section (D), provided that not more than two boats shall be of Section (D).

(d) If the boits placed under davits in accordance with this requirement do not furnish sufficient accommodation for all persons on board, then additional wood, metal, coliapsible, or other boats of approved description (whether placed under davits or otherwise), or approved life-rafts, or approved buoyant deck seats, or other approved buoyant deck fittings, shall be carried of at least such cubi al capacity that they and the boats required to be placed under davits by the Table provide together in the aggregate one-half more than the minimum cubic contents provided by colnmn 3 of that Table. For this purpose 3 cubic feet of air case in the life-raft is to be estimated at 10 cubic feet of internal capacity. Provided alway; that the rafts will accommodate all the persons for which they are to be certified under the Rules, and also have 3 cubic feet of air case for each person.

(e) Ships of this class shall carry not less than six approved lifebuoys.

(f) They shall also carry, in addition to the boats and appliances required above, approved life-belts or other similar approved articles of equal buoyancy suitable for being worn on the person, so that there may be at least one for each person on board the ship.

(g) Provided nevertheless that no ship of this class shall be required to carry more boats, rafts, and other buoyant deck fittings than will furnish sufficient accommodation for all persons on board. DIVISION (A).-CLASS 4.-Rules for Foreign-going Steamships not certified to carry Passengers.

(a) Ships of this class shall carry, on each side, at least so many and such boats of wood or metal placed under davits (of which one oa one side shall be a boat of Section (A), or Section (B), and on the other side shall be a boat of Section (A), or Section (B', or Section (C),) that the boats on each side of the ship shall be sufficient to accommodate all persons on board.

(b) They shall carry approved life-belts, so that there may be one for each person carried on board the ship.

(c) They shall carry not less than six approved life-buoys.

In the case of small steamships a discretion may be exercised by the Board of Trade to modify the requirements as to boats.

DIVISION (B).-CLASS 1.-Rules for Sailing Ships carrying Emigrant Passengers subject to all the Provisions of the "Passengers Acts."

(a) Ships of Division (B), Class 1, shall carry boats in accordance with the Table, and s ich boats shall be as far as practicable placed under davits, with proper appliances for getting them into the water. All boats not placed under davits are to be so carried that they can be readily got into the water.

(6) Not less than half the number of boats placed under davits, having at least half the cubic capacity required by the Tables, shall be boats of Section (A), or Section (B). The remaining boats may also be of such description, or may, in the option of the shipowner, conform to Section (C), or Section (D), provided that not more than two boats shall be of Section (D).

(c) If the boats placed under davits in accordance with the Table do not furnish sufficient accommodation for all persons on board, then additional wood, metal, collapsible, or other boats of approved description (whether placed under davits or otherwise), or approved life-rafts shall be carried. One of these boats may be a steam launch; but in that case the space occupied by the engines and boilers is not to be included in the estimated cubic capacity of the boat.

Subject to the provisions contained in paragraph (e) of these Rules, such additional boats or rafts shall be of at least such carrying capacity that they and the boats required to be placed under davits by the Table provide together in the aggregate threefourths more than the minimum cubic contents required by column 3 of that Table. For this purpose 3 cubic feet of air case in the life-raft is to be estimated as 10 cubic feet of internal capacity. Provided always that the rafts will accommodate all the persons for which they are to be certified under the Rules, and also have 3 cubic feet of air case for each person.

All such additional boats or rafts shall be placed as conveniently for being available as the ship's arrangements admit of, having regard to the avoidance of undue encumbrance of the ship's deck, and to the safety of the ship for her voyage.

(d) In addition to the lie-saving appliances before-mentioned, ships of this class shall carry not less than one approved life-buoy for every boat required by the Rules to be placed under davits. They shall also carry approved life-belts or other similar approved articles of equal buoyancy suitable for being worn on the person, so that there may be at least one for each person on board the ship.

(e) Provided nevertheless that no ship of this class shall be required to carry more boats or rafts than will furnish sufficient accommodation for all persons on board.

DIVISION (B).-CLASS 2.—Rules for Foreign-going Sailing Ships carrying Passengers, but not subject to all the Provisions of the "Passengers Acts."

Ships of this class shall be subject to the same requirements as those in Division B), Class 1.

DIVISION (B).-CLASS 3.-Rules for Foreign-going Sailing Ships not carrying Passengers.

(a) Ships of this Class shall carry a boat or boats of Sections A or B sufficient for all the persons on board, and in addition thereto one good serviceable boat of Section (D). Such boats shall be, as far as practicable, having due regard to their safety at sea, be placed under davits, with proper appliances for getting them quickly into the water; all boats not placed under davits are to be so carried that they can readily be got into the water to the satisfaction of the Board of Trade officer.

(b) They shall carry approved life-belts as required for ships in Division (B), Class 1, and also one life-buoy for each boat of wood or metal.

In the case of small vessels a discretion may be exercised by the Board of Trade to modify the boat requirements.

DIVISION (B).-CLASS 4.--Rules for Sailing Ships carrying Passengers anywhere within the Home- Trade limits.

(a) Ships of this class shall carry a boat or boats of Sections (A), and (B), or (C), sufficient for all the persons on board. Such boats shall be as far as practicable under davits; all boats not placed under davits are to be so carried that they can readily be got into the water to the satisfaction of the Board of Trade officer.

(b) They shall carry four life-buoys and a life-belt, or other similar approved article for each person on board.

DIVISION (C).--CLASS I.-Rules for Steamships not certified to carry Passengers plying anywhere within the Home-Trade limits.

(a) Ships of this class shall carry, on each side, at least so many and such boats of wood or metal placed under davits (of which one on each side shall be a boat of Section (A), or of Section (B), or of Section (C), that the boats on each side of the ship shall be sufficient to accommodate all persons on board. They shall have proper appliances for getting the boats into the water.

(b) They shall also carry approved life-belts so that there may be at least one for each person carried on board the ship.

(c) They shall also carry not less than four approved life-buoys. DIVISION (C).-CLASS 2.-Rules for Sailing Ships in the same Trades not carrying Passengers.

(a) Ships of this class shall carry a boat or boats of wood or metal, at least sufficient for all persons on board, and in such a position as to be readily got into the water. Each boat shall be provided with one gallon of vegetable or animal oil and a vessel of an approved pattern for distributing it in the water in rough weather. (b) Ships of this class shall also carry an approved life-belt for each person on board.

(c) They shall also carry at least two approved life-buoys.

DIVISION (D).-CLASS 1.-Rules for Steamships having Passenger certificates authorising them to carry Passengers within certain specified limits of the Home-Trade; that is to say, on short