New-York tribune., 1889-12-23
FOR SAFETY AT SEA.
WHAT VESSELS SHALL DO IN FoGGY
WEATHER.
RULES ADOPTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL
MARINE CONFERENCE.-THE QUESTION OF

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Washington Dec. 2o.-The most important feature
Of the work OF the International Marine Conference
has been the consideration Of the subject Of regla-
tions for preventing collisions at sea. The subject
was embraced In the first division Of the programme
as prepared by the United states delegates lts con
slderatlon occupied fully seven-eghths OF the time
OF the Conference The work Of the rules was finally
finished however, at the last session. and they have
been printed and furnished to the delegates. The
number Of articles has been increased from twenty
seven to thirty -onc, the scope OF many have been
| broadcned and the language made clear. Through
out the whole regulations the word snip I'D the
old rules Is changed to vessel" In the new steam
vessel Is made to include any vessel propelled Dy
machinery and a vessel 81 under way is within the
meaning Of the regulations when she Is not at
anchor or made fast to the shore, or aground. The
word "visibe' in the regulations, when applied to
lights Is made to visible dark night With
clear atmosphere.
The first change made In the rules Is in regard to
the light to be carried in front OF the foremast The
amendment provides that this light regardless OF the
breadth OF the vessel shall not be required to be car
ried over forty feet above the hull The next change
provides that steam vessel when under way. may
carry an additional white light similar In construc-
ton to the light TO be carried in front Of the foremas
These two lights shall be SO placed in line
with the keel that one shall be at
| least fifteen feet higher than the othcr' ana
I'm such position with reference TO each other tiat
the lower light shall be forward of the upper one
The vertical distance between these lights shall DC iess
than the horizontal distance. The new regulation In
regard to lights for towing steamers are as folows'
A steam vessel when towing another vessel shall In
addition to her side lights, carry two bright whse Ia
S in s es2 nsp s T %en S1s pyST towing s %oe than
vessel shall carry an additional bright %hl'e S1a 1s'
,d feet length lSvS Of Se tS% SS!o" measuring s%Sh f 0
me stern Of the towing vessel to the stem OF the last
vessel towed, exceeds 900 feet. Each OF these heIts
shall be Of the construction and Character anu
| shall be carried in the same position as the white
foremast light excepting the additional S light w9ls tsot
above the hull. Such steam vessel may carry 4
mall white G light al aSa et the n1 met ST cs g sha
not be visible forward Of the beam.
The Conference materially changed the regulation
in regard to vessels not under commando The new
one reads:
vessel which from any accident is not under
command shall carry at the same height as the white
foremast light where they can best be seem and If
vertical line, over the other. not less than six
feet apart and visible ali around the horizon no at
in vertical line one over the other, not less than
| balls or shapes, each two feet in diameter.
The new regulation relating to exceptional lights
! for small vessels" reads:
Whenever in the case Of small vessels under way
bad te the bS 5e nd gd @ az %
and ready for and SHALL on the approach OF or 10
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sufficient time to prevent collision, IN such manner as
to make them most visible, and so that the green light
s h apbosr aDf az side nor Il practcabe more than two
| points abaft the beam on their respective sides
| An entirely new rule provides that steam vessels
OF less than forty and vessels under sails Of
less than twenty tons gross respectively when under
way shall not be obliged to carry the foremast, star
board and port lights required Of large vessels, but
they do not carry them they shall be provided with
the following lights:
Steam vessels of less than forty tons shall carry h In
the part Of the vessel Or on OF III , iV u hove
funnel where 1t be seen, and al neish.
guwe Of not & fsi ossi ssf Wo RG niles i eee and rcd
side-lights constructed and fixed as sue ensne - "a
large vessels to be visible at leaIi r Efe and red light
from right ahead to T be carried not less than three
| feet below the white light -, ooo,ro
small steamboats,, such as are carried py seaeHs h
nine feet above the gunwale but II slali DC esrieS
above the combined lantern above mentioned .n.
Vessels under Oars sails. OF less tlah t"ey e''
shall have ready at hand lantern with green siaSo AS
on one side aud red glass on the Other wf 4 'e ,e
approach Of or to other vessels shaii pe eAN'"U III
| SUFFICIENT time to prevent cohlsloh' x,
The following additional paragraphs are addeo I"
the old article concerning lights for pilot vessels
the approach Of or to Uther yesseI y sc ts aS
shall shall ''' aash or show them at short Inter %
yais to indicate the direction in which ,sI they s
| are heading A pilOt-vessel OF such Grass ds
to be Obliged 90 alongside of vessel @ 70 pt "a a
pilot on board may show the white ngnt ms nseesu ca tb
sa sebfS above mentioned have at hand ready
for use lantern with green glass on the one ,S noS
and red glass on the OTHER 10 DC uSeu do p'''''''
| above. -
The regulations concerning fishing vessels ana open
boats will hereafter be of general application ana VIII
not as now apply only to fishing vessels OIL the COAST
OF Europe and north OF cape FlhiSlerrc' A"' i'-O"
ing are new regulations:
! Vessels when engaged in trawling: ..,.,o,
l. II steam vessels, shall carry IN the same posltion
as the white foremast light trooCred aaaS n;h ~ So go
points on each bow and green lsht ana reu iss s
over Of the horizon from TWO pols on ea,~
bow TO two points abaft the beam on the starOoaru
and port ide respectively and not less than SIX Or
more than twelve feet below the trlcoiorei 'i'ei"
| "a white light In a lantern. -. ose and nm
ward. Shall carry white light in lantern ana De
icbts. which Shall each burn for at least thirty
seconds and shall be shown on the approsen o. or
sailing vessels less than , ,9%i tons gross
shall not be obliged to carry the white ngit nel. @
o%ed ned darry in s@SGiySah sb sh they 81 ha
for use lantern showing bright %9. s, nsn. gese Se
exbibited where It can best be seen in sufficient time
to prevent collision and they shall also show ree
pyrG1efnGt pE IN ea therecf SSf preap light ,,o,.
(CC Vessels and boats when Ine hsmns VII win ~ tneit
lines ont and attached their lines, and when not AZ
SeS5tIE xesseiE 4s shns with drift-nets. .,....
drtnet % vessels attached to their nets and vessels
when tawng dredging or fishing & T thsr ANY Sea Hu oTt
shall il of twenty tons gross tonnage or upward re
snecyey at Intervals of not more thal ore minute
make blast i steam vessels WIN IN the rN w''e e.c% TI
bIaSt 10 no followed by ringing the bell Sailing YES
boats shRs with nefs or Indicate nss or e " oc
cnnation To an approaching vessel by displaying q
basket or OTHER efficient signal where 1t can best be
secn
The old regulation in regard to lights for vessels al
anchor remains the same for vessels uhder l'o icc
long.
one Of the most important parts Of the rules OF tho
road relates to signals and speed of vessels In fogsy
weather. The Conference has made 50 many anC
roh1o cb.ncos I'm this part OF the regulations tina