3290
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 77

permit, the recognized routes, and to induce the owners of all vessels
crossing the Atlantic bound to or from ports of the United States via
the vicinity of the Great Bank of Newfoundland to avoid, as far as
practicable, the fishing banks of Newfoundland north of latitude 43° N.
during the fishing season, and to pass outside regions known or believed
to be endangered by ice.

The Administration managing the ice patrol service is requested
to report to the Administration concerned any ship which is observed
not to be on any regular, recognized or advertised route, or which
crosses the above-mentioned fishing banks during the fishing season,
or which, when proceeding to or from ports of the United States,
passes through regions known or believed to be endangered by ice.

ARTICLE 40.
Collision Regulations.

The Contracting Governments agree that the alterations in the
International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea shown in
Annex II are desirable and ought to be made. The Government of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is requested
to forward full particulars of the alterations to the other Governments
who have accepted the International Regulations for Preventing
Collisions at Sea, and ascertain whether they will adopt these altera-
tions; to report the results to the Governments represented at this
Conference, and to endeavour to arrange that the revised regulations
shall come in force on the 1st July, 1931.

ARTICLE 41.
Helm Orders.

The Contracting Governments agree that after midnight on the
30th June, 1931, helm or steering orders, i.e., orders to the steersman,
shall on all their ships be given in the direct sense, e.g., when the ship
is going ahead an order containing the word “starboard” or “right”
or any equivalent of “starboard” or “right” shall only be used
when it is intended, on ships as at present generally constructed and
arranged, that the wheel, the rudder-blade, and the head of the ship,
shall all move to the right.

ARTICLE 42.
Misuse of Distress Signals.

The use of an international distress signal, except for the purpose
of indicating that a vessel is in distress, and the use of any signal
which may be confused with an international distress signal, are
prohibited on every ship.

ARTICLE 43.
Alarm, Distress and Urgency Signals.

The alarm signal and the distress signal may only be used by
ships in serious and imminent danger which require immediate
assistance. In all other cases in which assistance is required, or
in which a vessel desires to issue a warning that it may become necessary
to send out the alarm signal or the distress signal at a later stage, use
must be made of the urgency signal (XXX) established by the
International Radiotelegraph Convention, Washington, 1927.

If a ship has sent out the alarm or distress signal and subsequently
finds that assistance is no longer required such ship shall immediately
notify all stations concerned as provided for by the Radiotelegraph
Convention in force.

ARTICLE 44.
Speed of Distress Messages.

The speed of transmission of messages in connection with cases of
distress, urgency or safety, shall not exceed 16 words per minute.

ARTICLE 45.
Distress Messages. Procedure.

1. The master of a ship on receiving on his ship a wireless distress
   signal from any other ship, is bound to proceed with all speed to the
   assistance of the persons in distress, unless he is unable, or in the
   special circumstances of the case, considers it unreasonable or un-
   necessary to do so, or unless he is released under the provisions of
   paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Article.