ADDENDA TO THE REGULATIONS FOR PREVENTING

COLLISIONS AT SEA.

From the London Gazette, August 4th, 1868.

Steering And Sailing Rules.—Whereas there has been doubt and misapprehension concerning the effect of the two Articles 11 and 13.

Her Majesty, by virtue of the powers vested in her, and by and with the advice of her Privy Council, is pleased to make the following additions to the said Regulations by way of explanation of the said two recited Articles; that is to say:—

The said two Articles numbered 11 and 13 respectively only apply to cases where ships are meeting end on, or nearly end on, in such a manner as to involve risk of collision. They, consequently, do not apply to two ships which must, if both keep on their respective courses, pass clear of each other.

The only cases in which the said two Articles apply, are, when each of the two ships is end on, or nearly end on, to the other'; in other words, to cases in which, by day, each ship sees the masts of the other in a line, or nearly in a line, with her own; and, by night, to cases in which each ship is in such a position as to see both the side lights of the other.

The said two Articles do not apply, by day, to cases in which a ship sees another a-head crossing her own course; or, by night, to cases where the red light of one ship is opposed to the red light of the other; or where the green light of one ship is opposed to the green light of the other; or where a red light without a green light, or a green light without a red light, is seen a-head; or where both green and red lights are seen anywhere but a-head.

RULE OF THE ROAD FOR STEAMERS,

WITH AIDS TO MEMORY, In Four Verses,

By Thomas Gray.

1. Two Steam Ships Meeting :—

When all three Lights I see ahead—
I Port my helm, and show my RED.

2. Two Steam Ships Passing :—

GREEN to GREEN—or RED to RED—
Perfect safety—Go a-head!

3. Two Steam Ships Crossing :—

If to my Starboard RED appear,
It is my duty to keep clear;
Act as judgment says is proper—

Port—or Starboard—Back—or, Stop her!

But when upon my Port is seen

A Steamer's Starboard light of GREEN,
For me there's nought to do, but see

That GREEN to Port keeps clear of me.

4. ALL SHIPS MUST KEEP A GOOD LOOK-OUT, AND STEAM SHIPS MUST STOP AND GO ASTERN, IF

NECESSARY:

Both in safety and in doubt

I always keep a good look-out;
In danger, with no room to turn,
I Ease her!—Stop her!—Go astern!

SIGNALS OF DISTRESS.

In the day-time, whether used or displayed together or separately.

1. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute.

2. The International Code signal of distress indicated by N C.

3. The distance-signal, consisting of a square flag, having either above or below it a ball, or anything resembling a ball.

At night, whether used or displayed together or separately. 1. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute.

2. Flames on the ship (as from a burning tar-barrel, oil-barrel, &c.).

3. Rockets or shells, of any colour or description, fired one at a time at short intervals.

Any Master of a vessel who uses or displays, or causes or permits any person under his authority to use or display any of the said signals, except in the case of a vessel being in distress, shall be liable to pay compensation for any labour undertaken, risk incurred, or loss sustained in consequence of such signal having been supposed to be a signal of distress, and such compensation may, without prejudice to any other remedy, be recovered in the same manner in which salvage is recoverable."—(Merchant Shipping Act, 1873.)

SIGNALS FOR PILOT.

In the day-time, whether used or displayed together or

separately.

1. The Jack or other national flag usually worn by merchant ships, having round it a white border

one-fifth of the breadth of the flag, to be hoisted at the fore; or

2. The International Code pilotage-signal indicated by P T.

At night, whether used or displayed together or separately. 1. The pyrotechnic light, commonly known as a blue light, every fifteen minutes; or

2. A bright white light, flashed or shown at short or frequent intervals just above the bulwarks, for about a minute at a time.

"Any Master of a vessel who uses or displays, or causes or permits any person under his authority to use or display, any of the said signals for any other purpose than that of summoning a pilot, or uses or causes or permits any person under his authority to use any other signal for a pilot, shall incur a penalty not exceeding £20."—(Merchant Shipping Act, 1873.)

ROCKET AND MORTAR APPARATUS.

Instructions for the Guidance of Masters and Seamen when using the Apparatus for Saving Life, in Cases of Shipwreck.

In the event of your vessel stranding within a short distance of the United Kingdom, and the lives of the crew being placed in danger, assistance will, if possible, be rendered from the shore in the following manner; namely—

1. A rocket or shot, with a thin line attached, will be fired across your vessel. Get hold of this line as soon as you can, and when you have secured it let one of the crew be separated from the rest, and, if in the

daytime, wave his hat or his hand, or a flag or handkerchief; or, if at night, let a rocket, a blue light, or a gun, be fired; or let a light be displayed over the side of the ship, and be again concealed, as a signal to those on shore.

2. When you see one of the men on shore, separated from the rest, wave a Red flag, or (if at night) show a Red light, and then conceal it, you are to haul upon the rocket line until you get a tailed block with an endless fall rove through it.

3. Make the tail of the block fast to the mast about 15 feet above the deck, or if your masts are gone, to the highest secure part of the vessel. When the tail block is made fast, and the Rocket line unbent from the Whip, let one of the crew, separated from the rest, make the signal required by Art. 1 above.

N.B.—The tail block being fitted with a swivel will enable you to take out the turns (if any) in the endless fall, without unbending the block.

4. As soon as the signal is seen on shore a hawser will be bent to the whip line, and will be hauled off to the ship by those on shore.

5. When the hawser is got on board, the crew should at once make it fast to the same part of the ship as the tail block is made fast to, only about 18 inches higher, taking care that there are no turns of the whip line round the hawser.

N.B.—The turns can be prevented by bringing the end of the hawser up between the two parts of the endless fall.

6. When the hawser has been made fast on board, the signal directed to be made in Art. 1 above is to be repeated.