1476
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
No. 43

Art. 27. In obeying and construing these rules
due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation
and collision, and to any special circumstances which
may render a departure from the above rules neces-
sary in order to avoid immediate danger.

Sound-signals for Vessels in Sight of one Another.

Art. 28. The words “short blast,” used in this
article, shall mean a blast of about one second’s
duration.

When vessels are in sight of one another, a steam-
vessel under way, in taking any course authorised or
required by these rules, shall indicate that course by
the following signals on her whistle or siren, viz. :
—
One short blast to mean, “I am directing my
course to starboard.”

Two short blasts to mean, “I am directing my
course to port.”

Three short blasts to mean, “My engines are going
full speed astern.”

No Vessel under any Circumstances to neglect Proper
Precautions.

Art. 29. Nothing in these rules shall exonerate
any vessel, or the owner, or master, or crew thereof,
from the consequences of any neglect to carry lights
or signals, or of any neglect to keep a proper lookout,
or of the neglect of any precaution which may be
required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by
the special circumstances of the case.

Reservation of Rules for Harbours and Inland
Navigation.

Art. 30. Nothing in these rules shall interfere with
the operation of a special rule, duly made by local
authority, relative to the navigation of any harbour,
river, or inland waters.

SCHEDULE II.
Distress Signals.

Art. 31. When a vessel is in distress and requires
assistance from other vessels or from the shore, the
following shall be the signals to be used or displayed
by her, either together or separately, viz. :
—
In the daytime—

1. A gun or other explosive signal fired at inter-
   vals of about a minute ;
2. The International Code signal of distress
   indicated by N.C. ;
3. The distant signal, consisting of a square flag,
   having either above it or below it a ball
   or anything resembling a ball ;†
4. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal
   apparatus.

At night—

1. A gun or other explosive signal fired at inter-
   vals of about a minute ;
2. Flames on the vessel (as from a burning
   tar-barrel, oil-barrel, &c.) ;

• If a master of a vessel uses or displays, or causes or permits
  any person under his authority to use or display, any of those
  signals of distress, except in a case of a vessel being in distress,
  he shall be liable to pay compensation for any labour under-
  taken, risk incurred, or loss sustained in consequence of that
  signal having been supposed to be a signal of distress ; and
  that compensation may, without prejudice to any other
  remedy, be recovered in the same manner in which salvage
  is recoverable. (Merchant Shipping Act, section 434 (2).)

† A further distress signal is provided in the new Inter-
national Code of Signals. It is a distant signal consisting
of a cone point upwards, having either above it or below it
a ball or anything resembling a ball. This signal has not been
sanctioned by Order in Council under the provisions of section
434 of “The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894.”

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

4. A continuous sounding with any fog-signal
   apparatus

Fishing-vessels’ Lights.

(Article 10 of the Order in Council of the 11th August, 1884.)

Art. 10. Open boats and fishing-vessels of less
than 20 tons net registered tonnage, when under way,
and when not having their nets, trawls, dredges, or
lines in the water, shall not be obliged to carry the
coloured side-lights ; but every such boat and vessel
shall in lieu thereof have ready at hand a lantern
with a green glass on the one side and a red glass
on the other side, and on approaching to or being
approached by another vessel such lantern shall be
exhibited in sufficient time to prevent a collision, so
that the green light shall not be seen on the port
side nor the red light on the starboard side.

The following portion of this article applies only
to fishing-vessels and boats when in the sea off the
coast of Europe lying north of Cape Finisterre :
—

(a.) All fishing-vessels and fishing boats of 20
tons net registered tonnage or upwards,
when under way, and when not required
by the following regulations in this article
to carry and show the lights therein
named, shall carry and show the same
lights as other vessels under way.

(b.) All vessels when engaged in fishing with
drift-nets shall exhibit two white lights
from any part of the vessel where they
can be best seen. Such lights shall be
placed so that the vertical distance
between them shall be not less than 6 ft.
and not more than 10 ft., and so that the
horizontal distance between them (mea-
sured in a line with the keel of the vessel)
shall be not less than 5 ft. and not more
than 10 ft. The lower of these two
lights shall be the more forward, and both
of them shall be of such a character,
and contained in lanterns of such con-
struction, as to show all round the horizon
on a dark night with a clear atmosphere
for a distance of not less than three
miles.

(c.) A vessel employed in line-fishing with her
lines out shall carry the same lights as
a vessel when engaged in fishing with
drift-nets.

(d.) If a vessel when fishing becomes stationary
in consequence of her gear getting fast
to a rock or other obstruction, she shall
show the light and make the fog-signal
for a vessel at anchor.

(e.) Fishing-vessels and open boats may at any
time use a flare-up in addition to the
lights which they are by this article
required to carry and show. All flare-up
lights exhibited by a vessel when trawling,
dredging, or fishing with any kind of
drag-net shall be shown at the after part
of the vessel, excepting that, if the vessel
is hanging by the stern to her trawl,
dredge, or drag-net, they shall be ex-
hibited from the bow.

(f.) Every fishing-vessel and every open boat
when at anchor, between sunset and
sunrise, shall exhibit a white light visible
all round the horizon at a distance of at
least one mile.