DIVISION (E).-CLASS 3. Hulks. dredgers, steam hoppers, &c. If these vessels do not proceed to sea from one port to another they shall carry the same boats and appliances as provided for in Class 2. If they proceed to sea from one port to another they shall carry in addition one boat of Sections (A), (B), or (C) sufficient to carry all the persons on board, and with proper appliances to enable it to be put out readily on either side of the ship. GENERAL RULES. (1.) BOATS.-All boats shall be constructed and properly equipped as provided by these Rules, and all boats and other life-saving appliances are to be kept ready for use to the satisfaction of the Board of Trade. Internal buoyancy apparatus may be constructed of wood, or of copper or yellow metal of not less than 18 ozs. to the superficial foot, or of other durable material. Section (A).-A boat of this section shall be a life-boat, of whaleboat form, properly constructed of wood or metal, having for every 10 cubic feet of her capacity computed as in Rule (2), at least 1 cubic foot of strong and serviceable inclosed air-tight compartments, so constructed that water cannot find its way into them. In the case of metal boats an addition will have to be made to the cubic capacity of the air-tight compartments, so as to give them buoyancy equal to that of the wooden boat. Section (B). A boat of this section shall be a life-boat, of whaleboat form, properly constructed of wood or metal, having inside and outside buoyancy apparatus together equal in efficiency to the buoyancy apparatus provided for a boat of Section (A). At least one-half of the buoyancy apparatus must be attached to the outside of the boat. ·་ Section (C). A boat of this section shall be a life-boat, properly constructed of wood or metal, having some buoyancy apparatus attached to the inside and (or) outside of the boat equal in efficiency to one-half of the buoyancy apparatus provided for a boat of Section (A) or Section (B). At least one-half of the buoyancy apparatus must be attached to the outside of the boat. Section (D.) - A boat of this section shall be a properly constructed boat of wood or metal. Section (E.)-A boat of this section shall be a boat of approved construction, form, and material, and may be collapsible. (2.) CUBIC CAPACITY.-The cubic capacity of a boat shall be deemed to be her cubic capacity, ascertained (as in measuring ships for tonnage capacity) by Stirling's rule; but as the application of that rule entails much labour, the following simple plan, which is approximately accurate, may be adopted for general purposes, and when no question requiring absolute correct adjustment is raised: Measure the length and breadth outside and the depth inside. Multiply them together and by 6; the product is the capacity of the boat in cubic feet. Thus a boat 28 ft. long, 8 ft. 6 in. broad, and 3 ft. 6 in. deep, will be regarded as having a capacity of 28 × 85 × 3.5 × 6 = 499·8, or 500 cubic feet. If the oars are pulled in rowlocks, the bottom of the rowlock is to be considered the gunwale of the boat for ascertaining her depth. (3.) NUMBER of PERSONS for BOATS.-The number of persons a boat of Section (A) shall be deemed fit to carry shall be the number of cubic feet ascertained as in Rule (2) divided by 10. The number of persons a boat of Section (B), Section (C), Section (D), or Section (E) shall be deemed fit to carry shall be the number of cubic feet ascertained as in Rule (2) divided by 8. The space in the boat shall be sufficient for the seating of the persons carried in it, and for the proper use of the oars. (4.) APPLIANCES for lowering BOATS.-Appliances for getting a boat into the water must fulfil the following conditions:-Means are to be provided for speedily, but not necessarily simultaneously or automatically, detaching the boats from the lower blocks of the davit tackles; the boats placed under davits are to be attached to the davit tackles and kept ready for service; the davits are to be strong enough and so spaced that the boats can be swung out with facility; the points of attachment of the boats to the davits are to be sufficiently away from the ends of the boats to ensure their being easily swung clear of the davits; the boats' chocks are to be such as can be expeditiously removed; the davits, falls, blocks, eyebolts, rings, and the whole of the tackling are to be of sufficient strength; the boats' falls are to be long enough to lower the boat into the water with safety when the vessel is light. The life-lines shall be fitted to the davits and be long enough to reach the water when the vessel is light; and hooks are not to be attached to the lower tackle blocks. (5.) EQUIPMENTS FOR COLLAPSIBLE OR OTHER Boats and for LIFE-RAFTS.-In order to be properly equipped, each boat shall be provided as follows: (a.) With the full single-banked complement of oars, and two spare oars. (b.) With two plugs for each plug-hole, attached with lanyards or chains, and one set and a half of thole pins or crutches, attached to the boat by sound lanyards. (c.) With a sea-anchor, a baler, a rudder and a tiller, or yoke and yoke lines, a painter of sufficent length, and a boat-hook. The rudder and baler to be attached to the boat by sufficiently long lanyards, and kept ready for use. In boats where there may be a difficulty in fitting a rudder a steering oar may be provided instead. (d.) A vessel to be kept filled with fresh water shall be provided for each boat. (e). Life-rafts shall be fully provided with a suitable approved equipment. (6.) ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENTS FOR BOATS OF SECTION (A) AND SECTION (B). --In order to be properly equipped, each boa of Sections (A) and (B) in addition to being provided with all the requisites laid down in Rule (5), shall be equipped as follows, but not more than four boats in any one ship require to have this outfit, aud where boats of Sections (A) or (B) are carried in lieu of boats of Sections (C) or (D), this additional outfit need not be insisted on: (a.) With two hatchets or tomahawks, one to be kept in each end of the boat, and to be attached to the boat by a lanyard. (b.) With a mast or masts, and with at least one good sail, and proper gear for each. (c.) With a line becketted round the outside of the boat and securely made fast. (d.) With an efficient compass. (e.) With one gallon of vegetable or animal oil, and a vessel of an approved pattern for distributing it in the water in rough weather. (f.) With a lantern trimmed, with oil in its receiver sufficient to burn eight hours. (7.) NUMBER OF PERSONS FOR LIFE-RAFTS.-The number of persons that any approved life-raft for use at sea shall be deemed to be capable of carrying shall be determined with reference to each separate pattern approved by the Board of Trade; provided always, that for every person so carried there shall be at least 3 cubic feet of strong and serviceable inclosed air-tight compartments, constructed so that water cannot find its way into them. Any approved life-raft of other construction may be used, provided that it has equivalent buoyancy to that hereinbefore described. Every such approved liferaft shall be marked in such a way as to plainly indicate the number of adult persons it can carry. (8.) BUOYANT APPARATUS.-Approved buoyant apparatus shall be deemed sufficient, so far as buoyancy is concerned, for a number of persons, to be ascertained by dividing the number of pounds of iron which it is capable of supporting in fresh water by 32. Such buoyant apparatus shall not require to be inflated before use, shall be of approved construction, and marked in such a way as plainly to indicate the number of persons for whom it is sufficient. (9.) LIFE-BELTS.-An approved life-belt shall mean a belt which does not require to be inflated before use, and which is capable at least of floating in the water for 24 hours with 15 lbs. of iron suspended from it. Life-belts are to be cut out 2 inches under the arm-pits, and fitted so as to remain securely in their place when put on. (10.) LIFE-BUOYS.-An approved life-buoy shall mean either(a.) A life-buoy built of solid cork, capable of floating in the water for at least 24 hours with 32 lbs. of iron suspended from it; or (b.) A strong life-buoy of any other approved pattern or material, provided that it is capable of floating in the water for at least 24 hours with 32 lbs. of iron suspended from it, and provided also that it is not stuffed with rushes, cork shavings, or other shavings, or loose granulated cork, or other loose material, and does not require inflation before use. All life-buoys shall be fitted with beckets securely seized, and not less than two of them shall be fitted with life-lines 15 fathoms in length. (11.) POSITION OF LIFE BUOYS AND LIFE-BELTS. All life-buoys and life-belts shall be so placed as to be readily accessible to all persons on board, and so that their position may be known to those for whom they are intended. (12.) WATER-TIGHT COMPARTMENTS.-When ships of any class are divided into efficient water-tight compartments to the satisfaction of the Board of Trade, they shall only be required to carry additional boats, rafts, and buoyant apparatus of one-half of the capacity required by these rules, but the exemption shall not extend to life-jackets or similar approved articles of equal buoyancy suitable to be worn on the person. APPENDIX. The TABLE referred to in the foregoing Rules, showing the Minimum Number of Boats to be placed under Davits and their Minimum Cubic Contents. Note.-Where in ships already fitted the required cubic contents of boats placed under davits is provided, although by a smaller number of boats than the minimum required by this Table, such ships shall be regarded as complying with the rules as to boats to be carried under davits. In the case of vessels under 200 tons gross tonnage the capacity of any boat to be supplied should not be less than 125 cubic feet. If, however, in any case this rule be found to be impracticable, a discretion may then be exercised by the Board of Trade. In cases where a small vessel is unable to carry more than one boat, a discretion may be exercised by the Board of Trade, but whenever one boat only is carried there must be proper provision to enable it to be placed readily in the water on either side of the ship. |