New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-17
PROGRESS OF THE MARINE C0NFEREN CE

SIDE LIGHTS FOR STEAM VESSELS - COLOR
BLINDNESS ON THE SEA
Washington Dec. 1G.-The International Marine Con-
ference met at 10 O'Clock this morning, and imme-
dately proceeded to the consideration Of the add.
tiOnal report of the Committee on Lights This re-
port made on Friday last, deals entirely with the
amendment TO the Rules OF the Road offered by Cap
tain Flood of Norway which provided that the green
and red sidelights shall be placed in steam vessels
not forward Of the masthead light, and in sailing
vessels as near abreast the foremost practicable
The amendment had previously been adopted by the
Conference, but the CollOcation Committee It's
port questioned its ACCESSIBILITY, and it referred
to the Committee Lights for consideration. The
committee unanimous in reporting that the amend
ment ought TO be maintained, provided it could be
adopted universally. but it did not consider ii neces
sary TO adopt the rule to sailing vessels.
DR.. Sieve King, OF Germany, offered resolution. re
citing that it is approved by the Conference, and
recommended 10 the attention Of the Powers rep
resented hereat, that the green and red sdeshts he
placed in steam vessels not forward of the masthead
light and that this resolution be inserted in Appendix
in the report of the Committee the Collocation
of the Rules vote first taken on Captain
Floods amendment and it defeated by viva voce
vote. Dr. Sieve Kings proposition was then aereeu
TO.
Consideration of the repor. OF the Committee on
Life-Saving Systems ard Services was then begun.
The committee had formulated its recommendations III
a series of resolutions. which taken uD and voted
upon seriatim. The discussion was brief and before
recess the Conference had adopted the report.
The Conference then considered the report Oh the
Committee Oh General Divisions =. and OF the pro
gramme. The report General Division was ulscusSeu
first. This division treats Of the construction ana
equipment OF vessels, discipline and sulhcehcy VI
crews inspection Of vessels, and uniform certhcaeS
of inspection. Upon these subjects the committee ;
opinion is that no international rule can be made
which will secure beneficial results. The committee,
recommends however that all vessels should pos
sess a margin of strength and above that which
is REQUIRED to enable them to perform the WORK loi
which they were designed and built The committee
thinks that Oceang going steam vessels "hlch carry
passengers should be additionally protected by having
efficient bulkheads so spaced that when any two com
partments be filed with water, the vessel VIII sun
| remain in a seaworthy condition, and two at least
Of the amidships bulkheads. should be tested by
water pressure to the height of the deck next above
The water-line. After brief discussion the report
was adopted.
General Division 4 treats Of the subject OF uni
| form regulations regarding the designation and marx
ing of vessels. On this matter the committees re
port recommends that the name OF every
! reoistered merchant vessel shall be mitkts
upon each bow and upon the stern, ana
the port of registry of every such vessel shall be
marked upon the stern that these names snail DC
marked in Roman letters in a hsht color vi uoif
ground or in a dark color light ground ana 10
be distinctly visible that the smallest letters used
shall moi be less than four inches high that the drdil
of every registered vessel shall be marked upon the
stem and stern post in English feet or declmetrcs
The report was then adopted. ~
General Division treats Of the necessary quallca
tons for officers and seamen including tests Tor slgt
and color-blndness. The committee recommend
r,Iee nrovidinr that On every boy going 10
sea as a seaman or with the intention of becoming
a seaman should be examined for visual power ana
coior-bIlndness. and man or boy should be per.
mitfed to serve on board any vessel IN the capacity
of seaman where he will have 10 stand lookout whose
visual power is below one-ha normal, or VINO is red
ar green color blind: o. every who shall qualN
as An officer of a registered vessel or "a pilot after
fine adoption of these rules except engineer ofcers
shall be required to have certificate that he mas me
necessary visual power, and that he Is not red ana
green blind. He shall also have certiicatc llal
he is familiar with the regulations for preventing
collisions al sea and with the duties required OF MN
in cooperating with lfesaving station III case MS
vessel is stranded. H.. -, .,o
committee adopted. Will.
The reports of the Committee on General Division
lanes for steamers freQuented routeS-and
General Division 6-nigt signals for communicating
information at sea-wcre then considered III theif
order and adonted, after which the conference ad-
jOurned until Wednesday