WIRELESS AT SEA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1784, 24 June 1913, Page 4

WIRELESS AT SEA.

QUALIFICATIONS OF OPERATORS. Tho information published yesterday ro* gardiug the projected regulations to go v. em tho installation of wireless apparatua on Now Zealand steamers was ill ono particular misleading. Tho Mariilo Department inadvertently supplied a draft of tho regulations which has since boon, amended to tho extent of placing New Zealand steamers in tho third instead of the second-class under tho International Radio Telegraphic Convention. This means that it tho regulations are gazetted in their present form, steamers to which they apply will not bo required to do any regular "listening service" in connection with their wireless apparatus. Tho qualifications of wireless operators under tho proposed regulations aro as set forth in Articlo 10 of tho Detailed Service Regulations approved by tho International Convention. Tho articlo rends as follows:— 1. Tho scrvico of tho ship station must bo carried out by ft telegraphist holding a certificate issued by tho Government to which tho ship is subject, or, .in an emergency, and for ono vovago only, by nilother Government party to tho convention. 2,, Thero shall bo two classes of certificates. Tho first class certificate shall stato tho professional qualifications of tho operator with regard to:—(a) Tho adjustment of the npparatus and knowledge of their working; (b) transmitting and receiving by ear at a speed which must not bo less than twenty words per minutej (c) knowledge of tho regulations applying to the exchango of radiotelegraphic communications. Tho second-class certificate may bo issued to a telegraphist who only attains to a speed in transmitting and receiving twelve to ilincteeii words per minute, but who fulfils tho other conditions mentioned above. Telegraphists holding a second-class certificate mav bo allowed:—(a) On ships which only use' radio telegraphy for ■ their own service, and for the correspondence of iho ship's company, in particular on fishing vessels j (b) on all ships, as substitutes, provided that such ships liavo on board at least one operator holding a first-class certificate. Nevertheless, on ships placed in tho first-class indicated in Article XI.II, the service must be carried out by. at least two telegraphists holding firstclass certificate 1 !, In ship stations trans missions may only bo made by a tolegra. phist holding a first or second-class certificate, an exception being made of cases of emergency, in which it would be impossible (o conform to this provision. I). Further, the certificate shall testify that the Government has placed tho Telegraphist under the obligation of preserving the secrecy of correspondence, 4. The radio telegraph service of the sliip station shall be placed under the supreme authority of tho captain of tho shin,