New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-04
COLLISIONS AT SEA.
SOME VIEWS OF A COMPETENT NAVIGATOR
ON THEIR PREVENTION.



OVER THE AMENDED ENGLISH RULnS-A
NEW SYSTEM OF LIGHTS NEEDED.
Washington. Jan. . (spccaD.-Tt appears not little
strange that although onequarter Of the whole mar
tlmc tonnage Of the United states is carried upon its
own lake.. and of It's cOnfeS 'cdly abest pilots
and navgaorS conduct their vessels across those
waters representative Of this vast and Increasing
industry invited t. q seat at the recent international
Marine Conference. In October last. John Maurice,
who is said be Of the most competent of these
excluded navigitOrs furnished 10 the Commissioner OF
Navigation some highly important facts relative 10 the
subject Of American pilot rules and the prevention OF
collisions at sea, which that official reprinted In his
annual report recently reviewed In the columns OF The
Tribune. II should be remembered that the views and
suggestions Of Mr. Maurice formulated long after
the Conference had closed its important labors made
is report and complied It's regulations. The criticisms
and recommendations Of the capable navigator re
fcIcd to deserve therefore, some general notice. both
In the interest Of American shipOwncrs, merchants ana
underwriters. and I'm that also Of the safety Of sailors
at sea and more especially at this time when congress
in IT. various shipping bills will shortly act upon
some Of the subjects involved.
Mr.. Maurice claims the absolute superiority OF the
American pilot rules for both lakes and seabOard over
the English steering and sailing rules n amended DY
the international Marine Conference, and these latter
regulations vessel, will he found in Articles
Il to - inclusive, and Articles - and 2S, of the
amended English rules. Condensed for tic sake OF
hrcvty these Instructions are rs follows:
When two steam vessels are meeting end on, or
nearly end on, Ia Involve risk OF collision each
shall alter her course to siarboar 80 tiat ca'h may
pa. port side OF the other
when steam vessels crossing 50 as 10 involve
her ,tarboar, sdc .haIi Keep oat Of the way Of tho
other. aud shall. II the ccum,tances ~ the case M
@ g' her pc" 4 ar o p ON ' S and c ether
vessel -ha,i nccp her c'ur-c and speed Dne regard
shall hc had 10 all danger, oi navigation and collision
ana to any -pec,al clrcnst1ncco winch may render
departure from hc above rulcr necessary In order To
Article % \ steam vessel under in taking any
course authorized on required by these rules hall
VIII tl' or sicu. viz: one short blast 10 mean.
directing NV course - ,aTboard, two short hlaSg
short blasts 70 mean Ny engines are going hll speed
ast"rn.'
Nr. Maurice. in exceedingly graphic manner.
proceed, 10 show what he believes 10 be point, in.
efficient and defective in tics, rucs. saws tho
English rule. II thc cTcum- tanccs OF the al.
nit provi-o which undue> tie obligation q tie
navigator and leaves everything in doubt nor does
10 SAY what shall be adopted II "clrcum-
e,auce>7 compel vessel To break tn rule and cr.s'
ahead. The written Iuc covers only one Of the
two ri~c, In which ships each others
For instance. that II TIE vessel which having another
Dn her own ,tarh'arl ,.dc cro,-.> irt. o. I'm ad
vance 81 the otlrr. when the other vessel
fret WIoH vessel j, compelled 10 depart from
the rule. no method is provided by mean, Of which
he can inform her opponent e her intention cN.
ccpt by the si,ual 81 am dirccuus course Ia
port" Unfortunately Arc." = doe, rot rulc that
he f., bound To- d. 50. the 1T clio referring only 20
Nv course authorized required hv the ruc,. and
not t. c1urs,, which depart from II.
Turthcim that ou" vessel .houd direct her lur~e
- port is no guarantee a-au,t collision If the sieil
j, not made in time and a:0vd to ~ TIE other
vessel According o. American pilot mics ,r lqS"s
given tac choice TO cross to port 10 st'rb,ai II
another vessel ty making one or two blasts. r.
,pcCtiyc'y when a. d,-t0ucr 4 hln M IT, rom the
Their vessel. but be !, p.ohb.tei from carrying mi
hcr Intention loug the other vessel Dies not
i.r.c {" II Us repeating the same -i-raL II ,Ic 80
not agree she haS to indicate II AZ once by giving the
dan rcr ,..nn. whcrcupon both vessel, ha,e - SLOW
down their p'cd ultl they are agreed q, 90 ID" sdo
ou which TO pass one another. The provision %
slowing to speed barely sun "nt tr ,t"crAge way
800 case - non agreement is imperative. and an
essential feature Of the American rule thout which
collision ,iuuot be- prevented o., has been taught bv
long experience. For TAI, reason IL !, enforced VIII
-rat severity by the nu'hortce. The ah-cuc" of
tiI- PROVISION iu the amended English rules lcave-
c,c-yth.u to chance
so only the American rule cpv"r all cases that
may arise Int it 3, mnrr positive and concise. ara
iy., uor security 20 vc--"'> using ~ than IN" English
rul,e permit Of Ans possible name, n which meet
u, "l- approach and cruss ~ % "tirr j. pro
vd,G for Tn. navigator. on each side t.c,t tpc case
u.dcr the American rule upon IT. own ptrucult
merits. they must both acrcc beforehand what course
To- adopt and each puc Of them ha, accurate kuowc'e"
~ the other, Intent. The .1fct q the Nc"l> ], not
cft a, under the English rule, 10 the mere blowing u
Nh-tlc~ but the = climluaN arrangement A. io Oh"
manner loo which each boat -hall makes Ill t>tcr
impossible The American rule. lu fact dior:, "iorI
latitude for the movement ~ the yc,s"- permitting lu
It. sft 81.
of single tra,, only which I, all that the British rub
allow. udcr the American regulation, the two YES
-rls may switch oG right and left Willie under u"
En,li,h rule only Of the ship can turn a-dc and
thcn only to the right hand while tie other vessel j.
compelled to keep straight course.
The foregoing radlly prove, IA" startling proposition
thu, the facilt, Of getting out 81 the provided to
each ship by the American rule precisely four unlc
greater than those permitted by Tho English rcguls
lions Tho r,ncipl- defect of the English raj" j. that
hy changing Inc sailing rules of both slips. warning
To- switch of cannot De- given - IN" holding on vco
vi I'm time The defects Of the British rule may be
summed mp thus That Ions IT can D. followed
bv both the vessels concerned. they viii be secure
from accident. but departure from The rule by either
one If the boat necessarily mpc, collision.
Mr. Maurice concludes his paper upon the American
pilot rul", rs follows:
The great practical advantages under tho American
rul" become ,ull more visible wh"n considering tho
movements Of both vessels. The English ru" requires
the vessel that Ia, h. get out II the way 10 stop or
a certain distance 10 the right while tn, other
vessel la, 10 keep her course and speed Under tho
american rule botn vessels move half tai, distance.
requiring only half the time to get clear Of one
another. Furthermore under the English rule. pre-
venting collision depends solely The JudciOu- action
Of the vessel that Ina, TO keep ont OF the way. while
the other vessel l. prohibited from acting at all until
IL becomes evident that she is running into the very
jaw Of death, At ur when II I, generally too
late Tor escape. Into such Terrible situation vessels
can never b. brought under the American rule except
by grO~, neglect by the deceptive Appearance Of the
dtst'tnce between two vessels Ht night Under the
English rule the failure of ono parts 4, sufficient 10
bring about collision. under the American rule the
failure Of both parties |, required. Thus double
..rurty Is found under IN" American rules.
From every conceivable point Of view the American
pilot rules Tor lakes and ,cabOald far superior To
| The amended English rules. Under no circumstances
should they be- sacrificed for the sake Of uniformity
| with other nations