3282
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
[No. 85

14. Buoyant Apparatus.

(1) Approved buoyant apparatus, whether buoyant deck-seats, buoyant deck-chairs, or other buoyant apparatus, shall be deemed sufficient, so far as buoyancy is concerned, for a number of persons to be ascertained by dividing the number of pounds of iron which it is capable of supporting in fresh water by 32, and if it depends for its buoyancy on air shall not require to be inflated before use.

Such approved buoyant apparatus shall comply with the following conditions:—

(a) It shall be of approved material and construction.

(b) It shall be reversible.

(c) It shall be of such size, strength, and weight that it can be handled without mechanical appliances and, if necessary, can be thrown from a vessel’s deck on which it is stowed.

(d) The air-cases or equivalent buoyancy shall be placed as near as possible to the side of the apparatus.

(e) It shall be marked in such a way as plainly to indicate that it is buoyant, and the number of persons for which it is approved.

(2) Every life-raft which has been accepted as an approved life-raft up to the time of the coming into operation of these regulations may be accepted as approved buoyant apparatus for any ship not plying beyond home-trade limits, provided that it remains in good condition and is equipped and provisioned in accordance with General Rule 13 (3).

15. Side Ladders.

In all ships except those in Classes VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, and XIII, inclusive of the home-trade, approved rope ladders shall be carried in proportion to the number of davits fitted—namely, not less than one ladder for each two sets of davits: Provided that no ship shall be required to carry more than ten ladders. The ladders shall be of sufficient length to reach the water-line at the vessel’s lightest seagoing draught, and shall be carried in such a manner as to be always available for use in embarking the persons in the boats or rafts.

16. Illumination.

On all foreign-going passenger steamships in which the boat-deck is more than 30 ft. above the water provision shall be made for the illumination from the ship of the lifeboats when alongside and in process of or immediately after being launched.

17. Life-jackets.

An approved life-jacket shall mean a jacket of approved material and construction which is capable of floating in fresh water for twenty-four hours with 15 lb. of iron suspended from it, or any other approved appliance of equal buoyancy, and capable of being fitted on the body. It shall be reversible, and suitable both for adults and children. Life-jackets the buoyancy of which depends on air-compartments are prohibited.

18. Lifebuoys.

(1) (a) An approved lifebuoy shall be of solid cork or other equivalent material. It shall be capable of floating in fresh water for at least twenty-four hours with 32 lb. of iron suspended from it.

(b) Lifebuoys filled with rushes, cork shavings, granulated cork, or any other loose granulated material, or whose buoyancy depends upon air-compartments requiring inflation, are prohibited.

(2) All lifebuoys shall be fitted with becketts securely seized, and at least one on each side of the ship shall be fitted with a life-line at least 15 fathoms in length.

(3) (a) Self-igniting lifebuoy-lights shall be placed near the following number of lifebuoys:—

In a ship in Class VI, Home trade—Not less than two.

In every other ship, except ships in Classes VII, VIII, IX, XII, and XIII, Home trade—At least half the lifebuoys required by these rules, and not less than six in any passenger-steamer carrying more than twelve passengers.

(b) Such lifebuoy-lights shall be efficient and inextinguishable in water to the satisfaction of the Department, and provided with means for attachment to the lifebuoys.