3288

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

[No. 77

ARTICLE 35.

Meteorological Services.

The Contracting Governments undertake to encourage the collection of meteorological data by ships at sea, and to arrange for their examination, dissemination and exchange in the manner most suitable for the purpose of aiding navigation.

In particular, the Contracting Governments undertake to co-operate in carrying out, as far as practicable, the following meteorological arrangements :—

(a) To warn ships of gales, storms and tropical storms, both by the issue of wireless messages and by the display of appropriate signals at coastal points ;

(b) To issue daily, by radio, weather bulletins suitable for shipping, containing data of existing weather conditions and forecasts ;

(c) To arrange for certain selected ships to take meteorological observations at specified hours, and to transmit such observations by wireless telegraphy for the benefit of other ships and of the various official meteorological services ; and to provide coast stations for the reception of the messages transmitted ;

(d) To encourage all ship-masters to inform surrounding ships whenever they experience wind force of 10 or above on the Beaufort scale (force 8 or above on the decimal scale).

The information provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this article will be furnished in form for transmission in accordance with Article 31, §§ 1, 3 and 5, and Article 19, § 25, of the General Regulations annexed to the International Radiotelegraph Convention, Washington, 1927, and during transmission “to all stations” of meteorological information, forecasts and warnings, all ship stations must conform to the provisions of Article 31, § 2, of those General Regulations.

Weather observations from ships addressed to national meteorological services will be transmitted with the priority specified in Article 3, Additional Regulations, International Radiotelegraph Convention, Washington, 1927.

Forecasts, warnings, synoptic and other meteorological reports intended for ships shall be issued and disseminated by the national service in the best position to serve various zones and areas, in accordance with mutual arrangements made by the countries concerned.

Every endeavour will be made to obtain a uniform procedure in regard to the international meteorological services specified in this Article, and, as far as is practicable, to conform to the recommendations made by the International Meteorological Organization, to which organization the Contracting Governments may refer for study and advice any meteorological questions which may arise in carrying out the present Convention.

ARTICLE 36.

Ice Patrol. Derelicts.

The Contracting Governments undertake to continue a service of ice patrol and a service for study and observation of ice conditions in the North Atlantic. Further, they undertake to take all practicable steps to ensure the destruction or removal of derelicts in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean east of the line drawn from Cape Sable to a point in latitude 34° N. longitude 70° W. if this destruction or removal is considered necessary at the time.

The Contracting Governments undertake to provide not more than three vessels for these three services. During the whole of the ice season they shall be employed in guarding the south-eastern, southern and south-western limits of the regions of icebergs in the vicinity of the Great Bank of Newfoundland for the purpose of informing trans-Atlantic and other passing vessels of the extent of this dangerous region ; for the observation and study of ice conditions in general ; for the destruction or removal of derelicts ; and for the purpose of affording assistance to vessels and crews requiring aid within the limits of operation of the patrol vessels.

During the rest of the year the study and observation of ice conditions shall be maintained as advisable, and one vessel shall always be available for the search for, and destruction or removal of derelicts.