Evening star., 1941-04-25
All Graft Must Garry
Fire Extinguishers,
Life-Saving Gear
Operators of Passenger
Carriers Are Required
To Get New Licenses
BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.

Two regulations vital to the safe
operation of boatS-requiremen for
fire eXtinguishing equipment and for
hfe-saving devices-today became
effective throughout the United
States under provisions of the Mo-
torboat Act of 1910.
While the majority of regulations
went into effect a year ago today
officials of the Bureau of Marine
Inspection and Navigation, who drew
up the act, wished to give boat
owners opportunity to change over
to the new equipment, rather than
force them to discard existing ma
terialS the first year.
Life-Saving Device Details.
Beginning this morning, shippers,
all motorboats shall carry a life
saving device as follows:
Motorboats which carry paSSen-
gers for hire shall carry one ap-
proved life preserver for each per-
son on board
Motorboats of class $40 to 65 feet
not carrying passengers for hire
shall have one approved life pre-
server or ring buoy on board for
each person carried.
All other motorboats shall carry
an approved life preserver, ring buoy
or buoyant cushion for each person.
Box-type buoyant cushions will be
permitted as life preservers on boats
up to 40 feet, but the pillow-type, or
kapok, preserver will not be permit
ted after April 25, 1943.
After that date all life-saving
equipment must be of the bureau
approved variety. If you want to
make sure your new preservers meet
this future requirement, look for the
stamp or label which says, "Ap-
proved in accordance with the act
of April 25, 1940."
Fire Extinguisher Rules.
The minimum number and type of
approved portable fire eXtinguishers
required on motorboats from today
on are:
Boats up to 26 feet in length must
carry one 1-quart carbon tetrachlo-
ride, or one IA gallon foam, or one
4-pound carbon dioxide eXtinguisher.
Boats between 26 and 40 feet must
carry two of one of the three types
mentioned for the first division.
Boats between 40 and IS feet must
carry three of one of the specified
types.
If your craft is propelled by an
outboard engine and is not carry
ing passengers for hire it need not
have any extinguisher. According
to the regulations, you will have to
carry bureau-certif1ed f1re-fghting
equipment after 1943, providing your
present devices fulfill the demands
of today.
New Licenses Required.
Operators of motorboats carrying
passengers are required, as of today,
to obtain new licenses Boat livery
operators and employees and fishing
guides, even when they take out
passengers in outboard craft, are
affected under the ruling.
A minimum age limit of 18 is set
for applicants, who must be exam
ined orally by local bureau inspectors
concerning character and fitness.
Those seeking licenses for the first
time also must submit to physical
examination.
The Department of Commerce
here repeats its warning that any
person, under the 1910 act, who
"shall operate any motorboat in a
reckless or negligent manner so as
to endanger the life, limb or prop
erty of any person shall be punished
by a fine not exceeding $4,000 or by
imprisonment for term not exceed
ing one year" when found guilty by
q court of law.