Oct. 12.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3321

The emergency signal for summoning passengers to muster stations shall be a succession of more than six short blasts followed by one long blast on the whistle or syren. This shall be supplemented on all ships except those engaged in short international voyages by other electrically operated signals throughout the ship controlled from the bridge. The meaning of all signals affecting passengers shall be clearly stated in different languages on cards posted in their cabins and in other passenger quarters.

SAFETY OF NAVIGATION.

REGULATION XLVI.

Transmission of Information.

The transmission of information regarding ice, derelicts, tropical storms, or any other direct danger to navigation is obligatory. The form in which the information is sent is not obligatory. It may be transmitted either in plain language (preferably English) or by means of the International Code of Signals (Wireless Telegraphy Section). It should be issued CQ to all ships, and should also be sent to the first point of the coast to which communication can be made with a request that it be transmitted to the appropriate authority.

All messages issued under Article 34 of the present Convention will be preceded by the safety signal TTT followed by an indication of the nature of the danger, thus: TTT ice; TTT derelict; TTT storm; TTT navigation.

Information required.

The following information is desired, the time in all cases being Greenwich Mean Time:—

(a) Ice, Derelicts, and other Direct Dangers to Navigation.

(1) The kind of ice, derelict, or danger observed;
(2) The position of the ice, derelict, or danger when last observed.
(3) The time and date when the observation was made.

(b) Tropical Storms.—(Hurricanes in the West Indies, Typhoons in the China Seas, Cyclones in Indian waters, and storms of a similar nature in other regions.)

(1) *A Statement that a Tropical Storm has been encountered.*—This obligation should be interpreted in a broad spirit, and information transmitted whenever the master has good reason to believe that a tropical storm exists in his neighbourhood.

(2) *Meteorological Information.*—In view of the great assistance given by accurate meteorological data in fixing the position and movement of storm centres, each shipmaster should add to his warning message as much of the following meteorological information as he finds practicable:—

    (a) Barometric pressure (millibars, inches, or millimetres);
    (b) Change in barometric pressure (the change during the previous two to four hours);
    (c) Wind direction (true not magnetic);
    (d) Wind force (Beaufort or decimal scale);
    (e) State of the sea (smooth, moderate, rough, high);
    (f) Swell (slight, medium, heavy) and the direction from which it comes.

When barometric pressure is given the word “millibars,” “inches,” or “millimetres,” as the case may be, should be added to the reading, and *it should always be stated whether the reading is corrected or uncorrected.*

When changes of the barometer are reported the course and speed of the ship should also be given.

All directions should be true, not magnetic.

(3) *Time and Date and Position of the Ship.*—These should be for the time and position when the meteorological observations reported were made and not when the message was prepared or despatched. The time used in all cases should be Greenwich Mean Time.

(4) *Subsequent Observations.*—When a master has reported a tropical storm it is desirable, but not obligatory, that other observations be made and transmitted at intervals of three hours, so long as the ship remains under the influence of the storm.