Amended

by

act of Mar. 3,

Stat., 690).

RULE TWELVE. Coal-boats, trading-boats, produce-boats, canal-boats, oyster-boats, fishing-boats, rafts, or other water craft navigating any bay, harbor, or river, by hand power, horse-power, sail, or by the current of the river, or which shall be anchored or moored in or near the channel or fairway of any bay, harbor, or river shall carry one or more good white lights, which shall be placed in such manner as shall be prescribed by the board of supervising inspectors of steam-vessels.

RULE THIRTEEN. Open boats shall not be required to carry the side-lights required for other vessels, but shall, if they do not carry such lights, carry a lantern having a green slide on one side and a red slide on the other side, and on the approach of or to other vessels such lantern shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision, and in such a manner that the green light shall not be seen on the port side, nor the red light on the starboard side. Open boats, when at anchor or stationary, shall exhibit a bright white light. They shall not, however, be prevented from using a flare-up in addition, if considered expedient.

RULE FOURTEEN. The exhibition of any light on board 1897, sec. 12 (29 of a vessel of war of the United States may be suspended whenever, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Navy, the commander in chief of a squadron or the commander of a vessel acting singly, the special character of the service may require it. The exhibition of any light on board of a revenue cutter of the United States may be suspended whenever, in the opinion of the commander of the vessel, the special character of the service may require it.

Rule 15, except par. (D), amend

3, 1897, sec. 12

FOG-SIGNALS.

RULE FIFTEEN. (a) Whenever there is a fog or thick ed by act of Mar. Weather, whether by day or night, fog signals shall be 129 Stat., 690). used as follows: Steam vessels under way shall sound a steam whistle placed before the funnel, not less than eight feet from the deck, at intervals of not more than one minute. Steam vessels, when towing, shall sound three blasts of quick succession, repeated at intervals of not more than one minute. (b) Sail vessels under way shall sound a fog horn at intervals of not more than one minute. (c) Steam vessels and sail vessels, when not under way, shall sound a bell at intervals of not more than two minutes.

(D) Coal-boats, trading-boats, produce-boats, canalboats, oyster-boats, fishing-boats, rafts, or other water craft navigating any bay, harbor, or river, by hand power, horsepower, sail, or by the current of the river, or anchored or moored in or near the channel or fairway of any bay, harbor, or river, and not in any port, shall sound a fog-horn, or equivalent signal, which shall make a sound equal to a steam-whistle, at intervals of not more than two minutes.

STEERING AND SAILING RULES.

17 amended by 1897, sec. 12 (29

RULE SIXTEEN. Risk of collision can, when circum- Rules 16 and stances permit, be ascertained by carefully watching the act of Mar. 3, compass bearing of an approaching vessel. If the bear- stat., ing does not appreciably change such risk should be deemed to exist.

RULE SEVENTEEN. When two sailing vessels are approaching one another, so as to involve risk of collision, one of them shall keep out of the way of the other, as follows, namely:

(a) A vessel which is running free shall keep out of the way of a vessel which is close-hauled.

(b) A vessel which is close-hauled on the port tack shall keep out of the way of a vessel which is close-hauled on the starboard tack.

(c) When both are running free, with the wind on different sides, the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other.

(d) When both vessels are running free, with the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to the windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to the leeward.

(e) A vessel which has the wind aft shall keep out of the way of the other vessel.

RULE EIGHTEEN. If two vessels under steam are meeting end on, or nearly end on, so as to involve risk of collision, the helms of both shall be put to port, so that each may pass on the port side of the other.

RULE NINETEEN. If two vessels under steam are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way of the other.

RULE TWENTY. If two vessels, one of which is a sailvessel and the other a steam-vessel, are proceeding in such directions as to involve risk of collision, the steam-vessel shall keep out of the way of the sail-vessel.

RULE TWENTY-ONE. Every steam-vessel, when approaching another vessel, so as to involve risk of collision, shall slacken her speed, or, if necessary, stop and reverse; and every steam-vessel shall, when in a fog, go at a moderate speed.

RULE TWENTY-TWO. Every vessel overtaking any other vessel shall keep out of the way of the last-mentioned vessel.

RULE TWENTY-THREE. Where, by Rules seventeen, nineteen, twenty, and twenty-two, one of two vessels shall keep out of the way, the other shall keep her course, subject to the qualifications of Rule twenty-four.

RULE TWENTY-FOUR. In construing and obeying these rules, due regard must be had to all dangers of navigation, and to any special circumstances which may exist in any particular case rendering a departure from them necessary in order to avoid immediate danger.

Rules 25 and

26 added by act

RULE TWENTY-FIVE. A sail vessel which is being overof Mar. 3, 1897, taken by another vessel during the night shall show from sec. 13 (29 Stat., her stern to such last-mentioned vessel a torch or flare-up light.

690).

R. S. 4412.

Regulations as

to steamers passing each other.

R. S. 4413. Penalty for vio

tions.

RULE TWENTY-SIX. Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any ship, or the owner, or master, or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to carry lights or signals, or of any neglect to keep a proper lookout, or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen or by the special circumstances of the case.

SEC. 4412. The board of supervising inspectors shall establish such regulations to be observed by all steamvessels in passing each other, as they shall from time to time deem necessary for safety; two printed copies of such regulations, signed by them, shall be furnished to each of such vessels and shall at all times be kept posted up in conspicuous places in such vessels.

SEC. 4413. Every pilot, engineer, mate, or master of lation of regula- any steam-vessel who neglects or willfully refuses to observe the regulations established in pursuance of the preceding section shall be liable to a penalty of fifty dollars and for all damages sustained by any passenger, in his person or baggage, by such neglect or refusal.

R. S. 4487.

tion.

SEC. 4487. On any steamers navigating rivers only, River naviga- when from darkness, fog, or other cause the pilot or [on] watch shall be of opinion that the navigation is unsafe, or from accident to or derangement of the machinery of the boat the chief engineer shall be of the opinion that the further navigation of the vessel is unsafe, the vessel shall be brought to anchor or moored as soon as it can prudently be done: Provided, That if the person in command shall, after being so admonished by either of such officers, elect to pursue such voyage, he may do the same; but in such case both he and the owners of such steamer shall be answerable for all damages which shall arise to the person of any passenger or his baggage from such causes in so pursuing the voyage, and no degree of care or diligence shall in such case be held to justify or excuse the person in command or the owners.

AN ACT TO AMEND LAWS FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS OF VESSELS AND TO REGULATE EQUIPMENT OF CERTAIN MOTOR BOATS ON THE NAVIGABLE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the words "motor boat" where used in this Act shall include every vessel propelled by machinery and not more than sixty-five feet in length except tug boats and tow boats propelled by steam. The length shall be measured from end to end over the deck, excluding sheer: Provided, That the engine, boiler, or other operating machinery shall be subject to inspection by the local inspectors of steam vessels, and to their approval of the design thereof, on all said motor boats, which are

more than forty feet in length, and which are propelled by machinery driven by steam.

SEC. 2. That motor boats subject to the provisions of this Act shall be divided into classes as follows:

Class one. Less than twenty-six feet in length.

Class two. Twenty-six feet or over and less than forty feet in length. Class three. Forty feet or over and not more than sixty-five feet in length.

SEC. 3. That every motor boat in all weathers from sunset to sunrise shall carry the following lights, and during such time no other lights which may be mistaken for those prescribed shall be exhibited: (a) Every motor boat of class one shall carry the following lights: First. A white light aft to show all around the horizon.

Second. A combined lantern in the fore part of the vessel and lower than the white light aft showing green to starboard and red to port, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on their respective sides.

(b) Every motor boat of classes two and three shall carry the following lights:

First. A bright white light in the fore part of the vessel as near the stem as practicable, so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of twenty points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light ten points on each side of the vessel, namely, from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on either side. The glass or lens shall be of not less than the following dimensions:

Class two. Nineteen square inches.

Class three. Thirty-one square inches.

Second. A white light aft to show all around the horizon.

Third. On the starboard side a green light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on the starboard side. On the port side a red light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on the port side. The glasses or lenses in the said side lights shall be of not less than the following dimensions on motor boats of

Class two. Sixteen square inches.

Class three. Twenty-five square inches.

On and after July first, nineteen hundred and eleven, all glasses or lenses prescribed by paragraph (b) of section three shall be fresnel or fluted. The said lights shall be fitted with inboard screens of sufficient height and so set as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow and shall be of not less than the following dimensions on motor boats of

Class two. Eighteen inches long.

Class three. Twenty-four inches long: Provided, That motor boats as defined in this Act, when propelled by sail and machinery or under sail alone, shall carry the colored lights suitably screened but not the white lights prescribed by this section.

SEC. 4. (a) Every motor boat under the provisions of this Act shall be provided with a whistle or other sound-producing mechanical appliance capable of producing a blast of two seconds or more in

duration, and in the case of such boats so provided a blast or at least two seconds shall be deemed a prolonged blast within the meaning of the law.

(b) Every motor boat of class two or three shall carry an efficient fog horn.

(c) Every motor boat of class two or three shall be provided with an efficient bell, which shall be not less than eight inches across the mouth on board of vessels of class three.

SEC. 5. That every motor boat subject to any of the provisions of this Act, and also all vessels propelled by machinery other than by steam more than sixty-five feet in length, shall carry either lifepreservers or life belts, or buoyant cushions, or ring buoys or other device, to be prescribed by the Secretary of Commerce, sufficient to sustain afloat every person on board and so placed as to be readily accessible. All motor boats carrying passengers for hire shall carry one life-preserver of the sort prescribed by the regulations of the board of supervising inspectors for every passenger carried, and no such boat while so carrying passengers for hire shall be operated or navigated except in charge of a person duly licensed for such service by the local board of inspectors. No examination shall be required as the condition of obtaining such a license, and any such license shall be revoked or suspended by the local board of inspectors for misconduct, gross negligence, recklessness in navigation, intemperance, or violation of law on the part of the holder, and if revoked the person holding such license shall be incapable of obtaining another such license for one year from the date of revocation: Provided, That motor boats shall not be required to carry licensed officers, except as required in this Act.

SEC. 6. That every motor boat and also every vessel propelled by machinery other than by steam, more than sixty-five feet in length, shall carry ready for immediate use the means of promptly and effectually extinguishing burning gasoline.

SEC. 7. That a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars may be imposed for any violation of this Act. The motor boat shall be liable for the said penalty and may be seized and proceeded against, by way of libel, in the district court of the United States for any district within which such vessel may be found.

SEC. 8. That the Secretary of Commerce shall make such regulations as may be necessary to secure the proper execution of this Act by collectors of customs and other officers of the Government. And the Secretary of the Department of Commerce may, upon application therefor, remit or mitigate any fine, penalty, or forfeiture relating to motor boats except for failure to observe the provision of section six of this Act.

SEC. 9. That all laws and parts of laws only in so far as they are in conflict herewith are hereby repealed: Provided, That nothing in this Act shall be deemed to alter or amend Acts of Congress embodying or revising international rules for preventing collisions at sea.

SEC. 10. That this Act shall take effect on and after thirty days after its approval.

Approved, June 9, 1910.