The New York herald., 1879-10-09
RULES OF THE ROAD" AT SEA.

THE INTERNATIONAL CODE OF OCEAN SIGNALS
HOW COLLISIONS CAN BE PREVENTED
reporter yesterday called at the Office Of the Brit
ish Consul obtain particulars In regard to the in
ternational of ocean and river signals. which.
according to cablegram printed in Tuesdays
HERALD is to so into operation during the coming
year. In tho absence of Mr.. Archibald tho reporter
saw Mr.. Plerrepont Edwards, the Vice Consul, an
official who has made navigation laws the study OF
his life, and who has written "Practicai Guide Tor
British shipmasters to United States Ports When
shown the dispatches from London and Washington
on this subject, Mr.. Edwards said:--
"As yet We have received no copy of the new code,
If such one exists, and don't think will got it
until the rules and regulations have been approved.
At any rate as see by your kilograms. they not
to go into operation until September. 1880. In this
Office VIC have always been guided by the code of
1853 as amended by order in council In 1868 and
until We receive positive instructions from gov
ernnient as to the changes that have been made
we shall abide by that code as 1t now stands.
The international feature Of tho new code is
not The British code has been for
years and is virtually international code.
When i'll 1863 the present rules and regulations gov
erning ocean and river navigation were submitted
to foreign nations even the United States adopted
them. though after some hesitation. Again. when
also accepted them. The code we are now acting
under has been approved OF by tho governments of
nearly every civilized maritime country ana or
many free towns as well.
MEETING lend ON"
"Artice 2 Of the code OF 1853 now reads as fol-
lows:
IF two sailing ships meeting end on nearly end
involve risk of collision, the helms of both
shall be port that each the port side
OF the other.
"Article 10 contains exactly similar rule for
ships under steam."
Mr.. Edwards handed the reporter q compendium
of the rules and regulations. They prcscribe-
how lights to be carried q lights for steam
vessels s. exceptional lights for small sailing vessels;
g. lights for ships anchor; 7, lights for pilot
vessels: 8. lights for fishing vessels or boats;
o. flag signals; ~. the precautions to be adopted
by two sailing ships meeting; IL, two sailing ships
crossing: H. two ships under steam meeting; IL.
two ships under steam crossings H. sailing ship
under steam 15 ship under steam to slacken speed;
III. vessels overtaking other vessels. Steamships
must display white light ut foreInast head, green
light at starboard side and red light at
port side. Steamtugs must carry two bright
white masthead lights in addition to their side lights.
Sailing ships must carry the same lights rs steam
ships, with the exception of white masthead light.
Steam and sang ships while at anchor must have
white light twenty feet above the hull to be seen
a distance of one mile. Pilot vessels must carry
white light at the masthead to be seen all over the
horizon The various maritime nations have the
right to suggest amendments to the above rules and
the amendments. slight though they may be.
before they enacted into law binding upon
sells Of different nationaIitie Hence the rules
alluded to cannot come into use until September l,