3868
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 154

Boat drill should be practised and life-saving appliances examined as frequently as possible. Masters and officers should carefully inspect the boats and satisfy themselves that every life-boat has on board all the equipment required by the Life-saving Appliances Rules, including a sufficient quantity of provisions and water in good condition; that plugs are always securely attached to the margin of the plug-holes; and that the boats’ falls are so stowed as to be immediately available for use without liability to become fouled. For this purpose the falls should be wound on reels or stowed in some equally efficient manner.

Masters and officers should also impress on their crews that the safe lowering of a boat depends largely upon seeing that the falls are quite clear for running, and that while the boat is being lowered the men tending the falls lower in unison so as to keep the boat fairly level.

In order to prevent a boat coming down with a run, where lowering bollards are not provided, a round turn should be taken with the fall round the davit below the cleat before the falls are coiled.

Each lifeboat should be provided with two painters; one should be fitted with a strop and toggle, and the end should be led forward and kept belayed to a cleat or other suitable fitting fixed on the deck or bulwark, the boat’s painter being coiled in the boat for use if required after launching.

In the case of lifeboats stowed on the poop, or near the after-end of the ship, the cleats should be so placed that boats when lowered and freed from the tackles, with the ship light, will be held by the ropes clear of the counter and propellers.

The covers of all lifeboats, and pontoon lifeboats should be taken off before entering the submarine area, and all obstructions, such as would prevent the lifeboats floating off the vessel’s deck, should be removed, including the boats’ gripes, when weather permits.

In order that they may have the best chance of floating clear, a number of the pontoon lifeboats (where such are carried) may, if necessary, be stowed elsewhere than abreast of davits.

Life-rafts and Buoyant Apparatus.

19. Every passenger steamer which is, or may be, employed in a submarine area or danger zone should be provided with life-rafts, buoyant deck-seats, or other buoyant apparatus suitably stowed on deck, in addition to the lifeboats and other appliances required by the Life-saving Appliances Rules. If possible, the buoyant apparatus should be sufficient to accommodate 50 per cent. of the total number of persons on board.

20. Rafts and buoyant apparatus should be stowed in such a manner that they will be free to float off the vessel’s decks on their gripes being slipped. They should not be lashed or have any fastenings other than gripes. Wire-rope gripes fitted with a short length of chain and a slip-link are considered the handiest form of quick release.

Life-jackets.

21. Life-jackets should be so placed as to be readily accessible, or issued to the persons for whom they are available.

In a passenger ship the master must satisfy himself that every passenger has a life-jacket issued to him, has been shown how to put it on, and the correct position in which it should be worn, and has been instructed either to wear it or to keep it within immediate reach ready to put on while the ship is in a danger zone.

Musters should be held at short notice as soon as practicable after leaving each port in the danger zone and at frequent intervals thereafter, at which all passengers should be required to attend with their life-jackets, putting them on under proper guidance.

Not more than two types of life-jacket should be carried on board any one ship.

Warm Clothing, &c.

22. Passengers and seamen should be enjoined to keep themselves warmly clothed at all times, and to be ready for any emergency.

The seamen’s discharge-books should be distributed to them on entry in the danger zone.

C. Hipwood,
Assistant Secretary.

Marine Department, Board of Trade, June, 1917.