3008
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 67

recognition signals adopted by shipowners which have been authorized by their respective Governments and duly registered and published.

Art. 14.—A steam-vessel proceeding under sail only, but having her funnel up, shall carry in daytime, forward, where it can best be seen, one black ball or shape 2 ft. in diameter.

SOUND SIGNALS FOR FOG, ETC.

Art. 15.—All signals prescribed by this article for vessels under way shall be given—

1. By steam-vessels, on the whistle or siren :

2. By sailing-vessels and vessels towed, on the fog-horn.

The words “prolonged blast” used in this article shall mean a blast of from four to six seconds’ duration.

A steam-vessel shall be provided with an efficient whistle or siren, sounded by steam or some substitute for steam, so placed that the sound may not be intercepted by any obstruction, and with an efficient fog-horn, to be sounded by mechanical means, and also with an efficient bell.* A sailing-vessel of 20 tons gross tonnage or upwards shall be provided with a similar fog-horn and bell.

In fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rainstorms, whether by day or night, the signals described in this article shall be used as follows, viz. :—

a. A steam-vessel having way upon her shall sound, at intervals of not more than two minutes, a prolonged blast.

b. A steam-vessel under way, but stopped and having no way upon her, shall sound, at intervals of not more than two minutes, two prolonged blasts, with an interval of about one second between them.

c. A sailing-vessel under way shall sound, at intervals of not more than one minute, when on the starboard tack, one blast; when on the port tack, two blasts in succession; and when with the wind abaft the beam, three blasts in succession.

d. A vessel when at anchor shall, at intervals of not more than one minute, ring the bell rapidly for about five seconds.

e. A vessel when towing, a vessel employed in laying or in picking up a telegraph-cable, and a vessel under way, which is unable to get out of the way of an approaching vessel through being not under command, or unable to manoeuvre as required by these rules, shall, instead of the signals prescribed in subdivisions a and c of this article, at intervals of not more than two minutes, sound three blasts in succession—viz., one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts. A vessel towed may give this signal, and she shall not give any other.

Sailing-vessels and boats of less than 20 tons gross tonnage shall not be obliged to give the above-mentioned signals; but, if they do not, they shall make some other efficient sound-signal at intervals of not more than one minute.†

SPEED OF SHIPS TO BE MODERATE IN FOG, ETC.

Art. 16.—Every vessel shall, in a fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rainstorms, go at a moderate speed, having careful regard to the existing circumstances and conditions.

A steam-vessel hearing, apparently forward of her beam, the fog-signal of a vessel the position of which is not ascertained shall, so far as the circumstances of the case admit, stop her engines, and then navigate with caution until danger of collision is over.

*In all cases where the rules require a bell to be used a drum may be substituted on board Turkish vessels, or a gong where such articles are used on board small sea-going vessels.

† Dutch steam pilot-vessels, when engaged on their station on pilotage duty in fog, mist, falling show, or heavy rain-storms, are required to make at intervals of two minutes at most one long blast with the siren, followed after one second by a long blast with the steam-whistle, and again after one second by a long blast on the siren. When not engaged on their station on pilotage duty they make the same signals as other steamships.