The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-08-03
Safety of Sailing Craft.

! Boston Inspectors are Busy Making Exami-
nation. Strict Observance of the New Law.
Since the middle of June the local Unit
ed States inspectors of steam vessels,
Messrs. Crandall and Savage, and the
clerks in the Boston office have been hard
at work carrying out the provisions of
law passed by the last Congress, which
requires an inspection and certitication of
all sailing vessels over 700 tons and the
examination and licensing of masters and
first mates of such vessels. This has
| about doubled the work of the local
| officers
The law requires these officers to visit
and inspect these vessels in much the
same way AS steam vessels are examined,
| and requires the inspectors to satisfy
| themselves that every such vessel SO sub
mitted to their inspection is of structure
suitable for the service in which she is to
be employed, has suitable accommoda-
lions for the crew, and is in condition to
warrant the belief that she may be used
in navigation with safety to life.
Sections 4, ABS and 4, 439 of the old law
also changed, and now read
Sec 4, 43S. The boards of local nspec-
tors shall license and classify the masters,
chief mates, and second and third mates
if i'll charge of watch, engineers and
pilots of all steam vessels, and the mas
tiers and chief mates of sail vessels of over
700 tons, and all other vessels and barges
of over 100 tons burden carrying passen-
! gers for hire. 1t shall be unlawful to
| employ any person. or any person to serve,
as master, chief mate, engineer or pilot
AZ Ctl1s, oh inf
mate of any sail vessel OF over 700 tons
who is not licensed by the inspectors; and
any one violating this section shall be
liable to penalty of 800 for each offence.
Sec. 4439 Whenever any person applies
to be licensed as master OF any steam yes
sci. OF a sail vessel of over 100 tons. the
inspectors shall make dilligent inquiry a S
to his character, and shall carefully eX-
anime the applicant as well as the proofs
which he presents in support Of his claim,
and if they are satisfied that his capacity,
experience, habits of life and character
are such as warrant the belief that he can
be safely intrusted with the duties and
responsibilities of the station for which
he makes application, they shall grant
him a license authorizing him to dis
charge such duties on any such vessel for
the term of FIVE years; but such license
isfactory proof of bad conduct, intemper-
ate habits, incapacity. inattention to his
duties, or the wlful violation of any pro
vision of this title applicable to him.
Immediately upon the enactment of this
law the local inspectors started in on the
| new service, and are endeavorng to carry
out its provisions. The local office i'll the
postotfice building is the place of examr-
alton for masters and mates, while the
vessels themselves are examined where
ever found. The inspectors find i t rather
hard work getting hold of the vessels for
examination. Sailing vessels have to move
about quickly from place to place in order
to earn theiT salt, and while the inspect
ors are going on one wharf to catch a
craft, that vessel may have moved to an
other wharf or have been towed into the
stream.
As may be imagined, the law does not
meet with much favor from vessel owners
and vessel masters. 1t is said that it was
enacted solely with a view of exposing
weak vessel construction on the great
lakes, but as it now appears there is no
exemption for coast craft, all having to
come in under the new law alike.
1t was anticipated that when the exam
nations of the masters and mates came to
be carried out many of these seamen
would fall by the wayside, and there was
much opposition among them at having to
undergo examination, but up to date their
fears have proved groundless, there hav
ing been about half dozen out of the
entire coastwise and lake shippers and
mates to fail, and those that have been
"found'' have lost their certificates
through failure to pass the color blind
test. In this district but one officer
mate-has failed, and he was badly color
blind.
A reading of the law shows that vessels
must be suitable for the service in which
they are employed aud that they can be
used with safety to life. This applies to
the hull, rigging and sails, but nothing is
said of the necessity of an inspection of
, boilers and engines, in these days as much
part of the equipment of a tirst-class
vessel as her anchors and chains. Not
only the boilers may 60 without inspection,
but any one may run them, no license for
such service being required.
5 This omission is claimed to be most
serious, and while no part of the law is
favored in this district, the failure to call
? for the inspection of boilers and engines
} is freely crit cised. Boston Herald.