1. The difference between the freeboard by Table A (less 12 per cent.) and that by Table B to be divided by five, ths of it being considered with reference to the longitudinal strength, and ths of it with reference to the transverse strength, these allowances to be the maximum deduction on each account.

2. In the comparison of steel ships, notwithstanding the general reduction of 20 per cent. for steel, as compared with iron thicknesses, outside plating in the way of the double bottoms is not to be further reduced by 26th unless its thickness is ths or over. No reduction is to be made in any case unless there are floors connected with every frame.

3. In the calculation of strength, the following method is to be adopted :

(a) Thin iron or steel plating in decks and the inner plating of double bottoms are to have their sectional area reduced for the purpose of the strength calculation as follows:

Thickness in 16ths or 20ths 5 6 7 8 9
Multiplier

4 6 7 9 I

(b) A deduction of 4th is to be made for rivet holes in steel, and th in iron, for the parts in tension.

(c) Iron or steel decks which cover not less than ths of the

midship length of the vessel are to be considered in the calculation just as they would be if of the full length. (d) Wood weather decks, if continuous throughout the midship portion of the ship, are to be considered as equivalent to steel of th the sectional area of the wood.

(e) For the purpose of comparison of strength, the breadth of the hatchways in the standard vessel shall be deemed to be 3rd the breadth of the deck, and the tie-plates should be assumed to be fitted at the side of the hatchways.

TABLE C.

All vessels equal in strength to Lloyd's awning-decked rule, or which although in excess of that rule, do not come up to Lloyd's requirements for a spar-decked vessel, are to be considered as awning-decked vessels, the freeboard of which will vary with their strength.

No modification is necessary in respect of the height of 'tween decks of awning-decked vessels.

In computing the freeboard for awning-decked vessels having scantlings in excess of Lloyd's requirements, a comparison is to be made between their scantlings, the scantlings of vessels of the same dimension built to the 100A spar-decked rule, and of vessels built to the 100A awning-decked rule, and the freeboard is to be proportionate between that given in Table B and that given in Table C.

In vessels where the superstructure is of less strength than that required for the 100A awning-decked class, additions are to be made to the freeboard in the same proportion.

The freeboard of awning-decked vessels of the highest class of less than 14 ft. moulded depth is to be arrived at as follows:

Ascertain the freeboard by Table A for a vessel of the same moulded depth to main deck, and to reduce this by th the moulded depth, the result is the freeboard for awning-decked vessel.

The correction for length is to be ths of an in. for 10 ft., and the deduction for summer voyages 2 in., and the addition for North Atlantic winter 2 in.

In the comparison of scantlings and assignment of freeboard to awning-deck vessels having scantlings in excess of Lloyd's requirements, the method of procedure to be similar to that stated above for spar-deck vessels having scantlings in excess of those provided by the spar-decked rule.

TABLE D.

Sailing vessels classed A (black) in Lloyd's Register are to be regarded as first-class ships in applying the tables.

Hard wood ships, .., other than fir or pine, classed A (red) in Lloyd's are to have their freeboards by the tables increased by 8 per cent.

Hard wood ships classed E in Lloyd's are to have their freeboards by the tables increased 15 per cent.

Hard wood ships without class are to have their freeboards by the tables increased by 20 per cent., unless opened out for survey, when their freeboards will depend upon their condition.

Soft wood ships will require to have their coefficient of fineness modified in respect of the excess of the registered breadth caused by the extra thickness of side. That for hard wood ships is already provided for in the tables.

Soft wood ships classed A (red) in Lloyd's are to have their freeboards by the tables increased 10 per cent.

Soft wood ships classed Æ in Lloyd's are to have their freeboards increased 20 per cent.

Soft wood ships without class are to have their freeboards by the tables increased 25 per cent., unless opened out for survey, when their freeboards will depend upon their condition.

Iron and steel sailing vessels having a greater rate of rise of floor than 1 inches per foot of half breadth, may have the moulded depth to be used with the tables reduced by half the difference between the total rise of floor at the half breadth and the total rise at the standard rate of 1 inches per foot; 24 inches per fcct of half breadth is to be the maximum rate of rise on which an allowance is to be made. When the reserve buoyancy is calculated, the percentage taken shall be that corresponding to the depth reduced as above, but in no case shall the freeboard be less than that given in the top line of Table D for such percentage. Whichever method be adopted, the correction for length is to be applied in relation to the reduced moulded depth.

TURRET DECK STEAMERS.

RULES TO REGULATE THE DEPTH OF LOADING OF TURRETDECK VESSELS AND VESSELS OF SIMILAR TYPES.

The following agreement has been arrived at by the Conference of the representatives of the Board of Trade, Lloyd's Register, the British Corporation, and Bureau Veritas :

1.-A" turret " is a strongly constructed continuous erection at the middle line of a vessel, forming with the main or harbour deck an integral part of the hull, and of a breadth not exceeding sixten hs the greatest breadth of the vessel.

2. The freeboard, calculated according to the rule given, is in consideration of the turret being cont nuous. Where the turret is separated within the six-tenths length amidships, additional strength will be required to compensate for this.

3.-Hatch coamings at least 2 ft. high, and casings to engine and boiler openings at least 4 ft. 6 in. high, to be fitted above the "" turret deck.

4.-The volume of the turret to be estimated from a normal beam line drawn through the point where a vertical line at the quarter breadth of vessel cuts the upper surface of the vessel's deck. Where the turret is nearly one-half the breadth of the vessel, and its transverse section is of rounded form at its base, the base line of the turret to be drawn through the point where the vertical line at the quarter breadth cuts the upper surface continued in the same curve as the normal line of beam.

5.—The reserve buoyancy required by the tables to be estimated by taking 60 per cent. of the volume of the turret. The height of the turret allowed for is not to exceed 25 per cent. of the moulded depth.

6. The moulded depth of the vessel to be taken to be the depth a side from the beam line, as before defined, to the top of the keel.

7.- If a vessel has sheer, to determine the volume of the turret, the turret base line to be drawn at each section as described above. At the extreme fore-end of the vessel the base of the turret to be parallel to the turret deck.

8. No allowance shall be made for any erection above the turret except in respect of either a forecastle or poop, or both of them, provided that such allowance for poop or forecastle shall not exceed that due to a poop or forecastle equal to one-eighth of the length of the ship. The allowance to be in proportion to its length and the breadth as compared with the breadth of the ship at the after-end of the forecastle, or fore-end of the poop.

9.-The transverse and longitudinal strength of the vessel to be regulated by that required for a "three-deck" or spar-deck vessel of the same length, breadth, moulded depth, and co-efficient of fineness.

10. Where a wood lower deck is required for the standard vessel, and the same is dispensed with, compensating strength must be furnished.

11. If the frame spacing be increased one-fourth, the thickness of all the plating, excepting garboard and sheer-strakes, should be increased by one-twentieth of an inch over the thickness required in the standard ship. Other increases in spacing should be dealt with in the same proportion.

12.-Should a vessel be constructed with a turret exceeding sixtenths the breadth of the vessel, or should the centre line of disc when ascertained reach a point above the junction of the vertical side with the rounded gunwale, full particulars and calculations with the proposed assignment to be submitted to the Board of Trade before freeboards are assigned.

13. The freeboards in the certificates issued to be set off in feet and inches from the line of the turret deck.

RULES FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE FREEBOARD OF SHELTER-DECKED STEAMERS.

By the term "shelter-decked steamer" is meant, for the purpose of the following instructions, a steam vessel having a complete suprestructure of a substantial character extending over the whole length of the vessel, the superstructure deck (hereinafter called the shelter-deck) being continuous and unbroken at the sides of the vessel, but having one or more openings at the middle line, which have no permanent means of closing them, but which may or may not have means for temporarily closing them.

In assigning freeboards to shelter-decked vessels, the following rules should be observed :

(1) In making the sheer correction in accordance with para. 16 of the load line tables, the sheer is to be measured at the ends of the vessel, and the freeboard corrected for sheer in estimating the allowance for erections.

(2) (a) In the case of shelter-decked vessels having only one

opening in the shelter deck, the length correction under para. 9 of the load line tables is to be one half that specified in Table A; and the allowance for deck erections is to be determined under para. II in the manner specified below, provided that the effective length of the deck erections, when assessed on the assumption that the opening in the deck is an open well, and in accordance with the different regulations contained in the load line tables affecting poops, bridges, and forecastles, open or closed, is not less than ths of the length of the vessel.

(4) In the case of shelter-decked vessels having an opening at each end of the vessel, and also in the case of vessels having more than two openings in the shelter-deck, the entire correction for length is to be applied, and the allowance for deck erections is to be determined under para. 12 of the tables.

(3) The effective length of the deck erections is to be calculated in the following manner, provided the openings in the shelter-deck do not exceed half the vessel's breadth at the middle of the length of the opening. The length to be taken in the first instance as if each opening were an open well, the value of each part being assessed on that assumption in accordance with the different regulations contained in the load line tables affecting poops, bridge houses, and forecastles, open or closed, and also in accordance with the regulations regarding bridge houses not covering the engine and boiler space. The final allowance for erections will depend upon whether or not temporary but efficient means are provided for closing the openings in the shelter-deck.

(a) If efficient means as specified below are provided for temporarily closing the openings in the shelter-deck, the effective length of the deck erections is to be reckoned as the length computed as prescribed above, plus half the difference between that length and the length of the vessel.

(b) If efficient means for temporarily closing the openings are not provided, the effective length of the erections is to be computed by adding to the length computed as above one fourth, instead of one half, the difference between that length and the length of the vessel.

(c) If the openings in the shelter-deck are wider than as specified above, the addition to the assumed length of erections is to be modified in proportion to the relation which the actual opening holds to the specified breadth and to a complete well.

(4) Means for temporarily closing the openings in the shelterdeck may be regarded as efficient if they are at least equivalent to the following in strength and security. The portable planks for closing the openings to be not less in thickness than required by para. 43 of Lloyd's Rules (1885) for the flat of awning-decks. The planks to be supported by portable beams, fitted either longitudinally or athwartships, spaced not wider than 5 ft. apart, and efficiently secured at their erds, and the deck in way of the openings to be efficiently supported by pillars from the deck below. The por able planks to be provided with eye bolts and lashings, or some other equally efficient means of securing them in place.

(5) If efficient means are provided for temporarily closing the openings in the shelter-deck in heavy weather, the freeing ports required by para. 11 (f) need not be provided. If, however, efficient means for closing the openings are not provided, whether in vessels with one or with more than one opening in the shelterdeck, then freeing ports with shutters properly hung are to be fitted, having a minimum area as follows:

If the freeing port area is less than that stated above, an addition is to be made to the freeboard of per cent. of the vessel's moulded depth, provided, however, that in the case of vessels treated under para. 12, the freeboard is not to be increased beyond that due to deck erections of the same length and character, but with open wells, as determined by the different regulations contained in the load line tables affecting poops, bridge houses, and forecastles.

(6) Shelter-decked vessels having a plating number not exceeding 27,000, and having one opening in the shelter-deck either at the forward or after end of the vessel, and having at least ths of the length covered with completely and permanently enclosed deck erections, the bulkhead enclosing the midship part of the erection having no openings in it and being at least ths of the vessel's length from amidships, and having also extra strength as required by Section 44 of Lloyd's Rules for 1889, may be granted the