Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-28
REQU|S|T|ON SHIPS
OF OVER2,5OOT TONS
Government Will Take Over All
Vessels Available for Ocean
Service on October IS.
BIG CUT IN RATES ANNOUNCED
Neutral Tonnage to Replace Craft
From Regular Trade and
CoastWise Routes.
iBy Associated Press.

WASHINGTON. September 27-Every
American merchant vessel of more
than $500 tons dead weight capacity.
available for ocean service. will be
requisitioned by the government on
October 15. the Shipping Board an
nounced to-day in a statement giving
the charter rates Mt which the ves-
sells will be taken over. American
ships available for ocean traffic total
slightly more than 1000 900 tons. but
some already have been taken over for
the army and navy.
In most instances. except where re-
quired for actual government service
the ships, II was said will be turned
back to their owners for operation on
government account. subject at all
times to any disposition tho Shipping
Board may direct.
The rates announced will cut sharp
ly the present charter rates charged
by American vessels for carrying gov
crnment supplies. 1t is the intention.
II is understood. to apply them later
to any foreign ships chartered in the
United States. The charterinE will be
in the hands of the Shipping Boards
chartering commission
NEW RATES ANNOUNCED
rpN II FhSlShT VESSELS
For freight vessels the rates figured
on time charter, on basis of dead
weight tonnage. are as follows:
More than 10000 tons. S575.
S.o0l to 10000 tons. Sc.
6.0cl to 5000 tons. ss25
t.OOl TO 5000 tons, $3.50
S,ool 10 1000 tons. s675.
$500 TO 1000 tons. 81.
knots will be allowed so cents a ton
aooi'ional Tor each knot or fraction
over ten.
for passenger vessels the board
adopted a two-fold basis Of classifica-
tion--class a. comprising steamers Win
capacity of more than $50 passengers.
and class b, with n capacitv NJ fror
seventy-fve to $50 passengers. steam
ers In both ratings are further classified
according to speeo. Passenger steam
er rates based on time charters. and
hEures gross register, are as follows.
Niass A-1o to 11.'knots, 50 ton.
~ Knots, $3.50: 13 knots. $40; IA knots
'looe; 10 knots, sl1; more than *
knots. sll.50
CLASS B-lo to II knots. SIS a ton.
. Knots. $3.50; IS knots. SO; IA knots.
1880; Is knots. $40; more than *
knots. slose.
TO RE TAKEN OVER
ON BARE SHIP BASIS
some OF the vessels to be reouisi
uoned, which will be used exclusiyelv
ioi army and navy service, will be
taken over on bare ship basis. These
vessels VIII be manned and operated
hy the army and navy instead of hv
their use are s4.l5 for cargo boats
ana 800 ton gross for passenger
steamers OF IL knots speed. with an
additional allowance OF so cents a ton
for each knot In excess of II up to
16 knots.
All of the rates are tentative The
board, 1t was announced, will deter
mine on any revision that appears nee
essary.
The government will assume the war
fisk on the ships reduisitioned and in
some Instances the marine risk as we'll
Where the marine risk is assumed. the
usual rate for this insurance will be
deducted from the charter price.
Within less than six months vir.
tually every one of the 45s vessels
now available for ocean service. in
cludinG regular lines. will he either
in the service OF supplying American
troops and warships abroad or i'm
trades considered vital 10 the war
The intention Of the government is TO
replace ships drawn from regular trade
routes and from the coastwise service
with neutral tonnage. Foreign ships
will be admitted into the coastwise
service by suspension of the coast-
wise shipping laws. A bill to make
this suspension possible is before Con-
eress.