(S. 2556]

AN ACT

To amend and supplement the steering rules respecting orders to helmsmen on all vessels navigating waters of the United States, and on all vessels of the United States navigating any waters or seas, in section 1 of the Act of August 19, 1890, section 1 of the Act of June 7, 1897, section 1 of the Act of February 8, 1895, and section 1 of the Act of February 19, 1895.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 1 of the Act of August 19, 1890 (ch. 802, 26 Stat. 320; U. S. C., title 33, secs. 61 to 141, arts. 1 to 31), is amended and supplemented by adding at the end thereof as section 142, title 33, of the United States Code the following:

"ART. 32. All orders to helmsmen shall be given as follows: "Right Rudder' to mean 'Direct the vessel's head to starboard.' "Left Rudder' to mean 'Direct the vessel's head to port.'

999

SEC. 2. Section 1 of the Act of June 7, 1897 (ch. 4, 30 Stat. 96; U. S. C., title 33, secs. 154 to 231, arts. 1 to 31), is amended and supplemented by adding at the end thereof as section 232, title 33, of the United States Code the following:

"ART. 32. All orders to helmsmen shall be given as follows: "Right Rudder' to mean 'Direct the vessel's head to starboard.' "Left Rudder' to mean 'Direct the vessel's head to port.' Article 18, rule VIII, of said section 1 is amended to read as follows:

"RULE VIII. When steam vessels are running in the same direction, and the vessel which is astern shall desire to pass on the right or starboard hand of the vessel ahead, she shall give one short blast of the steam whistle, as a signal of such desire, and if the vessel ahead answers with one blast, she shall direct her course to starboard, or if she shall desire to pass on the left or port side of the vessel ahead, she shall give two short blasts of the steam whistle as a signal of such desire, and if the vessel ahead answers with two blasts, shall direct her course to port; or if the vessel ahead does not think it safe for the vessel astern to attempt to pass at that point, she shall immediately signify the same by giving several short and rapid blasts of the steam whistle, not less than four, and under no circumstances shall the vessel astern attempt to pass the vessel ahead until such time as they have reached a point where it can be safely done, when said vessel ahead shall signify her willingness by blowing the proper signals.

"The vessel ahead shall in no case attempt to cross the bow or crowd upon the course of the passing vessel."

SEC. 8. Section 1 of the Act of February 8, 1895 (ch. 64, 28 Stat. 645; U. S. C., title 38, secs. 241 to 293, rules 1 to 28), is amended and supplemented by adding at the end thereof as section 294, title 83, of the United States Code the following:

"RULE 29. All orders to helmsmen shall be given as follows: "Right Rudder' to mean 'Direct the vessel's head to starboard.' "Left Rudder' to mean 'Direct the vessel's head to port.''

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SEC. 4. Section 1 of the Act of February 19, 1895 (ch. 102, 28 Stat. 672; U. S. C., title 33, secs. 301 to 351, rules 1 to. 26), is amended and supplemented by adding at the end thereof as section 352, title 33, of the United States Code, the following:

"RULE 27. All orders to helmsmen shall be given as follows: "Right Rudder' to mean 'Direct the vessel's head to starboard.' "'Left Rudder' to mean 'Direct the vessel's head to port.""

SEC. 5. The provisions of this Act shall become fully effective for all ocean and coastwise vessels on January 1, 1936, and for all vessels on the Great Lakes, bays, sounds, harbors, rivers, and lakes other than the Great Lakes, of the United States on January 1, 1937. Approved, August 21, 1935.

[H. R. 8598]

AN ACT

To provide for the inspection and regulation of vessels engaged in the transportation of inflammable, explosive, and like dangerous cargoes in navigable waters of the United States.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That no vessel, regardless of size or rig, excepting public vessels of the United States, shall transport on the navigable waters of the United States, from point to point in the continental United States, any inflammable, explosive, or like dangerous cargo or anchor in such waters or go into drydock for repairs while having on board such dangerous cargo, until such vessel has been inspected by the board of local inspectors to determine that such cargo may be carried on such vessel with safety, and a permit issued to her for the presence on board of such cargo, which permit shall be framed under glass and posted in a conspicuous part of the vessel.

The Secretary of Commerce is authorized and directed to promulgate rules and regulations concerning construction, the appliances, and apparatus for stowage, of vessels used in the transportation of inflammable, explosive, or like dangerous cargo on said vessels in order to preserve life and property while in operation or at anchor. The local board of inspectors shall not issue a permit to any vessel until it finds that said vessel is in substantial compliance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Commerce:. Provided, That this Act shall not apply to a vessel covered by an unexpired certificate of inspection duly issued in accordance with law by the local inspectors of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation or, if a foreign vessel, by an unexpired certificate of inspection issued under the authority of its own government and recognized under law or treaty by the Government of the United States.

SEC. 2. A penalty of not to exceed $500 may be imposed for each violation of any of the provisions of this Act or of any of the rules and regulations promulgated under the authority of this Act. The vessel shall be liable for the said penalty and may be seized and proceeded against, by way of libel, in the District Court of the United States for any district within which such vessel may be found.

SEC. 3. This Act shall become effective sixty days after its enact

ment.

Approved, August 26, 1935.

[8. 2002]

AN ACT

To provide for the establishment of load lines for American vessels in the coast wise trade, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That load lines are hereby established for merchant vessels of one hundred and fifty gross tons or over, loading at or proceeding to sea from any port or place within the United States or its possessions for a coast wise voyage by sea. By "coastwise voyage by sea" is meant a voyage on which a vessel in the usual course of her employment proceeds from one port or place in the United States or her possessions to another port or place in the United States or her possessions and passes outside the line dividing inland waters from the high seas, as defined in section 2 of the Act of February 19, 1895.

SEC. 2. The Secretary of Commerce is hereby authorized and directed in respect of the vessels defined above to establish by regulations from time to time the load water lines and marks thereof indicating the maximum depth to which such vessels may safely be loaded and in establishing such load lines due consideration shall be given to, and differentials made for, the various types and character of vessels and the trades in which they are engaged: Provided, That the load-line provisions of this Act shall apply to the Great Lakes and that no load line shall be established or marked on any vessel which load line gives a lesser freeboard and less buoyancy than the load line established by the International Treaty on Load Lines of 1930, and that the regulations established under this proviso shall have the force of law: Provided further, That in applying the load lines to vessels on the Great Lakes the Secretary of Commerce is vested with discretion to vary the load-line marks from those established by said Treaty when in his opinion the changes made by him will not be above the actual line of safety.

SEC. 8 It shall be the duty of the owner and of the master of every vessel subject to this Act and to the regulations established thereunder to cause the load line or lines so established to be permanently and conspicuously marked upon the vessel in such manner as the Secretary of Commerce shall direct, and to keep the same so marked. The Secretary of Commerce shall appoint the American Bureau of Shipping, or such other American corporation or association for the survey or registry of shipping as may be selected by him, to determine whether the position and manner of marking on such vessels the load line or lines so established are in accordance with the provisions of this Act and of the regulations established thereunder: Provided, however, That, at the request of the shipowner, the Secretary of Commerce may appoint, for the purpose aforesaid, any other corporation or association for the survey or registry of shipping which the Secretary of Commerce may approve; or the

Secretary of Commerce may appoint for said purpose any officer of the Government, who shall perform such services as may be directed by the Secretary of Commerce. The Secretary of Commerce may, in his discretion, revoke any appointment made pursuant to this section. Such corporation, association or officer shall, upon approving the position and manner of marking of such load line or lines, issue a certificate, in a form to be prescribed by the Secretary of Commerce, that the same are in accordance with the provisions of this Act and of the regulations established thereunder, and shall deliver a copy thereof to the master of the vessel. It shall be unlawful for any vessel subject to this Act and to said regulations to depart from any port or place designated in section 1 without bearing such mark or marks, approved and certified by such corporation, association, or officer, and without having on board a copy of said certificate.

SEC. 4. It shall be unlawful for any vessel subject to this Act and to the regulations established thereunder to be so loaded as to submerge the load line or lines marked pursuant to this Act and to the regulations established thereunder applicable to her voyage; or to be so loaded as to submerge under like conditions the point where such load line or lines ought to be marked pursuant to the provisions of this Act and of the regulations established thereunder; or to be so loaded as in any manner to violate the said regulations.

SEC. 5. Whenever the Secretary of Commerce shall certify that the laws and regulations in force in any foreign country relating to load lines are equally effective with the regulations established under this Act, the Secretary of Commerce may direct, on proof that a vessel of that country has complied with such foreign laws and regulations, that such vessel and her master and owner shall be exempted from compliance with the provisions of this Act, except as hereinafter provided: Provided, That this section shall not apply to the vessels of any foreign country which does not similarly recognize the load lines established under this Act and the regulations made thereunder. SEC. 6. It shall be the duty of the master of every vessel subject to this Act and to the regulations established thereunder and of every foreign vessel exempted pursuant to section 5, before departing from her loading port or place to provide a ship's record or log book and enter therein a statement of the position of the load line marked applicable to the voyage in question and the actual drafts forward and aft at the time of departing as nearly as the said drafts can be ascertained.

SEC. 7. If any collector of customs has reason to believe on complaint or otherwise that a vessel subject to the provisions of this Act is about to proceed on a voyage from a port in the United States or its possessions within his district without conforming to the provisions of section 8 hereof, or when loaded in violation of section 4 hereof, or that any vessel exempted pursuant to section 5 hereof is about to proceed on a voyage from such port when loaded in violation of the laws and regulations of her country with respect to load line, he may serve on the master or officer in charge of such vessel a written order detaining the vessel for the purpose of being surveyed to determine whether or not the provisions of this Act are complied with. Where the detention is on the ground