The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-06-26
NEW SAILING RULES,
MARITIME POWERS AGREE UPON Reo.
uLAvloNs FOR The HIGH SEAS.

MARITIME POWERS AGREE UPON Reo
uLAvIoNs FOR The HIGH SEAS.
| Ths Nsw Code PrsctioalIy1dsntiosf Wsal
xhss Psssosibsd by tho washinssen m
stsrnaASonal Marine Conference of leGo
ChsngOs Are IN Improvsmsnt.
Recently the new rules Of tho soad
formulated BY the great maritime pow.
ers went into operation on all ths hish
seaA Tho regulations, which Viii havs
Tho forge Of law for the maz4nsH ~
substantially those prescribed BY uhe
International Washington marine con-
ference Of 1880, but In the ~ years
since that body closed it, deliberations
ibs recommendations have been sub
tected to the fires Of criticism, and not
without ultimately undergoing some
notifications.
!. The original regulation respecting
the screening Of side lights. against
which there was great outcry by ship
masters and shipowners. does not figure
In the new rules as finally revised, and
screens are hereafter, as heretofore, to
be fixed SO as to prevent the,red and
green lights from being visible across
the bow Of the ship. The helm signals
proposed at Washington are retained
and Incorporated In the new yegula-
tions. While there has been not q little
debate over some of the signals II can
not be assumed in advance Of their trial
that they will prove unsatisfactory. as
their critics have predicted. At any
rate. the new law for preventing ooili-
sions at sea is oonfessedly in many i'm
portant respects an Improvement upon
the old. It is more precise and more
comprehensive, and upon the whole the
best, perhaps. that could have been Oh
tanned under the circumstances and con-
ditions of their adoption.
The adoption Of the new international
rules, even il they shall be found 10 re-
quire serious revision. is certainly one
step in advance. 1t can hardly fail to
have happy effect in reminding sea-
men Of their responsibilities, in defining
more clearly than has ever before been
done the precautions which must be
observed to prevent disas
ter and in enforcing more accurate and
methods of safeguarding life |
and property at sea. Those who do bust |
ness in deep waters will feel new Sc
curity and, with diminution Of ma.
rine risks, a new impulse will be.given
TO the merchant shipping Of the world. |
It is true that most collisions occur |
from carelessness or inattention, and
no rules, however good, will make
officers careful and vigilant. But the
fact that the new rules will require
more mental effort and watchfulnese
than the old required may be an advan-
age and not, as some have alleged,
iarusnip.
II should be noted we'll by all seamen
that the new rules are applicable not
only on the open ocean, but also cin. all
waters connected Herewith navigable
by seagoing vessels. But the latter
statement does not hold in waters where
local rules are in force.
There are some new fog signals with
which seamen will have to familiarize
and the proper use Of which
will both tax and educate their power
IF attention.
One of these innovations requires two
prolonged blasts for steam vessels when
under way, but stopped and having NO
way upon her," Another innovation re.
1uires a long blast, followed by two
,hort blasts, for vessels towed and tow
ing, vessels not under command, vessels
not able to maneuver as required by
these rules and vessels at work ON tele-
graph cable. While the latter rule may
be open to some ambiguity Of construc.
ion, the net result of article 10 Tin
which it is embodied) can hardly fail
IN practice to reduce the number Of COL
isions considerably.
The spirit and tenor of the new rules,
while not sufficiently definite and strong
1pon the matter Of the speed Of vessels
IN fog, require more caution on the part
of navigators than the old rules did.
The former prescribe moderate speed"
IN thick or falling weather, leaving to
The captain of the ship to decide what
s moderate speed. Doubtless, it would
'eem, the time will come (and probably
,oon come) when something more than
his india rubber rule will be demanded
IN the interest of the millions Of steam
hip passengers crossing the ocean.
There may be weighty objections to'pre-
'cribing 10 or ~ miles as the maximum
,peed Of steamers in thick weather, but
experience has apparently shown that
there are still weightier objections 10
allowing underlined speed.
But whatever defects remain In thl
new rules must for the present be borne
with. and seamen of every flag should
aim to make tho best Of them, looking
Tor the time when any errors which ex.
perience may show to exist in them will
be remedied by international agree.
ment. New York Herald.
Homo From the Field.
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