The San Francisco call., 1897-03-14
ENGINEERS AND
PILOTS NECESSARY
New Regulations Regard
ing Gas and Naphtha
Vessels.
Inspectors of Hulls and Boilers
Receive Important In.
structions.
An Act of Congress That Affects a
Large Number of Craft Plying
on This Coast.

The United States Supervising and
Local Inspectors of Steam Vessels have
just been notified by the Treasury De-
partment of important amendments re-
Gently passed by Congress to the statutes
relating to vessels propelled by gas, fluid,
naphtha or electric motors.
Hitherto it has not been necessary for
vessels propelled by the means men
tened to have licensed engineers or
pilots, or to observe the regulations that
pertain to steam vessels. As conse-
quence large number OF small vessels
operated by gas and naphtha have come
into use, the cost for both help and fuel
being far less than that of steamboats,.
On January Is the following act OF Con.
gress was approved:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House OF
Representatives. of the United States OF
America in Congress assembled: That all YES
sells of above fifteen tons burden carrying
freight and passengers for hire, propelled by
gas, fluid, naphtha or electric motors, shall be
and are hereby made subject to all the pro-
visions of section 4426 OF the Revised Statutes
OF hulls and boilers, and requiring engineers
and pilots; and all vessels SO propelled, with.
out regard to tonnage or use. shall be
subject to the provisions OF section 4412 of the
to the regulation of steam vessels in passing
each other, and to so much of sections 4233
and 1924 of the Revised Statutes relating to
lights, fog signals, steering and sailing rules
as the supervising inspectors shall by their
regulations deem applicable and practica bic
for their safe navigation.
The Board of Supervising inspectors
under the authority of this law have
adopted the following regulations in rela-
tfon to the class OF vessels mentioned, the
regulations applying TO all the navigabls
waters of the United States:
All rules relating to lights, fog signals
steering and sailing contained in section 4233
Revised Statutes, and applying to steam yes
sells, shall apply to all vessels propelled by
gas, fluid, naphtha or electric motors, and be-
tween any of such vessels and steam vessels on
the facifc Coast inlane waters, with the ex.
| ception that the red and green lights on open
| vessels OF ten gross tons and under pro.
| PEELED by gas, fluid, naphtha or electric
lantern showing a red light and a
green light, as described in rule 13 of said
| section 1888, in lieu of all other lights foI
vessels under way. When the range and side
| lights are carried on such vessels of ten gross
| tons and under, the after-range light shall De
carried at an elevation OF at least seven feet
above the light At the head of the vessel Such
vessels of ten gross IONS and under, If provided
with bell six inches in diameter, of good
tone and quality, to be rung by hand IN fog OF
| thick weather, shall be deemed properly
equipped in that respect.
The local inspectors have notified the
owners of large number of vessels carry
ing freight and passengers on this coast
that their boats must carry licensed en-.
gineers and pilots, and all violations will
be reported and the guilty parties pun.
ished.
The regulations as to lights, fog signals,
etc., apply to hundreds OF launches that
are in use on the bay and the streams
emptyfng into it, and will be of great in.
terest to the owners of these craft.