1482
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 43

68. What sound-signals are required to be made by a vessel when towing, a vessel employed in laying or in picking up a telegraph cable, or a vessel under way which is unable to get out of the way of an approaching vessel through not being under command or unable to manœuvre as required by the rules?

A vessel towing, or when laying or picking up a telegraph cable, or when unable to get out of the way, shall at intervals of not more than two minutes sound three blasts in succession—viz., one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts.

69. What sound-signal may a vessel being towed make?

A vessel towed may give the same signal as a vessel towing, and she shall not give any other.

70. What sound-signal must sailing-vessels and boats of less than 20 tons gross tonnage make?

If they do not give the signals prescribed for other vessels, they must make some other efficient sound-signal at intervals of not more than one minute.

71. Do the regulations require vessels to take any other precaution during thick weather?

Yes. Art. 16 says every vessel shall, in a fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain storms, go at a moderate speed, having careful regard to the existing circumstances and conditions.

72. What action must be taken by a steam-vessel hearing apparently forward of the beam the fog-signal of another vessel the position of which is not ascertained?

She shall, so far as the circumstances of the case admit, stop her engines, and then navigate with caution until danger of collision is over.

73. How can you generally ascertain whether there is risk of collision in approaching another vessel?

By carefully watching the compass-bearing of the other vessel, and if it does not appreciably change such risk should be deemed to exist.

74. When a steam-vessel under way takes any course required by these rules, must she indicate the course to any vessel she has in sight?

Yes. Art. 28 provides that in taking any course authorised or required by the regulations, a steam-vessel under way shall indicate that course to any other vessel which she has in sight 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.”

75. What does the expression “short blast” used in the preceding article mean?

It means a blast of about one second’s duration.

76. What precaution is to be taken by steam-vessels which are directed by these rules to keep out of the way when approaching another vessel?

They shall, if necessary, slacken speed, or stop and reverse.

77. If you see two white lights in a verticle line one over the other, what do they denote as regards the vessel carrying them?

They may denote the presence of a steam-vessel end-on with her side-lights not within sight on account of distance, fog, &c., or a steam-vessel towing with her side-lights not within sight on account of distance, fog, &c.; or a vessel end-on to me engaged in drift-net fishing, or in line-fishing; or it may be a steam-trawler end-on, or within two points of being end-on, to me, or a vessel of 150 ft. or upwards in length at anchor and end-on to me.

78. If you see a green or a red light with a white light below, what do they denote?

They denote the presence of a steam-vessel engaged in trawling.

79. If you see both the green and red lights with a white light below them, what do they denote?

They denote the presence of a sailing-trawler coming end-on to me

80. If you see a white light alone, what does it denote as regards the ship carrying it?

It denotes the presence of a vessel or boat at anchor; or a pilot-vessel on her station; or the masthead light of a vessel under steam, with her side-lights not within sight on account of distance, fog, &c.; or a fishing-vessel stationary through her gear getting fast to some obstruction; or a sailing-trawler engaged in trawling; or it may be a light shown from the stern of a vessel which is being overtaken.

81. If you see a green or a red light without a white light, or both a green and a red light without a white light, is the vessel carrying the light or lights seen a vessel under steam or a vessel under sail?

A vessel under sail.

82. How do you know?

Because there is no white masthead light.

83. If you see a white light over a coloured light, is the vessel a vessel under sail or a vessel under steam?

A vessel under steam. The masthead light denotes that the vessel is under steam.

[The Examiner will then take one model of a vessel, which he will place on the table, and call A. He will then take the mast or stand with a white and a red ball on it, and place it at the other end of the table, and call it B.

The Examiner should be careful that the model of one vessel only is used when the questions numbered 84 to 89 are asked.]

84. A is a steam-vessel going north, seeing a white light and red light right ahead at B. Are A and the vessel B showing the two lights meeting end-on or nearly end-on, or is B passing A, or is B crossing the path of A, and in what direction, and how do you know?

Passing to port, because if I see a red light ahead I know that the head of the vessel carrying that red light must be pointing away in some direction to my own port or left hand. The vessel showing the red light has her port or left side more or less open to A.

85. If A is going north, within what points of the compass must the vessel B showing the white and red lights be steering?

B must be going from a little W. of S. to W.N.W.

86. How do you know this?

Because, the screens being properly fitted, I could not see the red light of B at all with the vessel’s head in any other direction.

87. A is a steam-vessel going north, and seeing a white and green light ahead. Are A and B meeting, or is B passing A, or is B crossing the course of A, and in what direction; and how do you know?

B is passing to starboard of A, because if I see a green light ahead I know that the head of the vessel carrying that green light must be pointing away in some direction to my starboard or right hand. The ship showing the green light has her right or starboard side more or less open to me.

88. As A is going north, within what points of the compass must the vessel showing the white and green lights be steering?

B must be going from a little E. of S. to E.N.E.

89. How do you know?