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A.—2

Enclosures. Rule, dated 14th June, 1911, made by the Board of Trade under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 (57 & 58 Vict., c. 60), as to Life-saving Appliances. Under the provisions of section 427 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, the Board of Trade hereby make the following rule for life-saving appliances. This rule shall be construed as one with the rules relating to life-saving appliances dated the 10th February, 1902, the 24th May, 1909, and the 19th April, 1910, and shall come into effect on the 1st day of August, 1911. H. Llewellyn Smith, Secretary to the Board of Trade. Walter J. Howell, Assistant Secretary, Marine Department.

Decked Lifeboats. For the purpose of defining the conditions under which a decked lifeboat may be substituted for an open lifeboat of section (A), section (B), or section (C) on British ships, the rules relating to life-saving appliances dated the 10th February, 1902, shall be amended as follows : — General Rules. Clause (1), Boats, shall be read as if the following words were inserted at the commencement thereof, namely : "In the case of such ships as are required to carry two or more boats of section (A), or section (B), or section (C), it shall be permissible for a proportion of the boats to be decked boats. This proportion shall not exceed one-half of the number of boats of each section which the ship is required to carry." Clause (1), Section (A), shall be read as if the following words were added thereto, namely : " A boat of this section may also be a lifeboat of whale-boat form, fitted with a strong watertight deck, provided the boat is constructed in a manner approved by the Board of Trade. A decked metal lifeboat must be fitted with strong and serviceable enclosed airtight compartments, having a capacity of at least 1 cubic foot for each person whom the boat is deemed fit to carrj r ; but in a wooden decked boat enclosed airtight compartments may be dispensed with, subject to such conditions as may be approved by the Board of Trade." Clause (1), Section (B), shall be read as if the following words were added thereto, namely : " A boat of this section may also be a decked lifeboat, subject to the conditions approved for a decked lifeboat of section (A)." Clause (1), Section (C), shall be read as if the following words were added thereto, namely : " A boat of this section may also be a lifeboat of whale-boat form, fitted with a strong watertight deck, and constructed in a manner approved by the Board of Trade." Clause (2), Cubic Capacity. —The words " an open boat, and of a decked boat of section (D) or section (E)," shall be substituted for the words " a boat " in the first line of the clause. The clause shall also be read as if the following words were added thereto, namely : " The cubic capacity of a decked lifeboat of section (A), section (B), or section (C) shall be deemed to be the number of cubic feet obtained by multiplying the number of persons the boat is deemed fit to carry by ten." Clause (3), Number of Persons for Boats. —The words " an open boat " shall be substituted for the words " a boat " in the first paragraph of the clause. The words " an open boat of section (B) or section (C), or an open or decked boat of section (D) or section (E)," shall be substituted for the words " a boat of section (B), section (C), section (D), or section (E) " in the second paragraph of the clause. The clause shall also be read as if the following words were added thereto, namely: "The number of persons a decked boat of section (A), section (B), or section (C) shall be deemed fit to carry shall be such that the top of the deck amidships is at a height above the water approved by the Board of Trade, when the boat is so loaded, subject to there being a deck-space of at least 3'8 square feet for each person." " When the dimensions and form of the boat are such that, in the opinion of the Board of Trade, a practical test of the boat afloat is unnecessary, the number of persons the boat is fit to carry shall be deemed to be the number obtained by dividing the area of the deck in square feet by 3-8." " When a practical test is considered to be necessary, the boat shall be placed afloat and loaded with weights until the top of the deck amidships »is at the approved height above water, and a weight of 1401b. avoirdupois shall be deemed equivalent to the weight of one person. If it is not practicable for the test to be made before the boat is placed on board a ship, the number of persons the boat is fit to carry pending the practical test afloat shall be deemed to be the number obtained by dividing the area of the deck in square feet by such a number greater than 3"8 as the Board of Trade may determine."

(For official use.) Instructions to Surveyors.—Decked Lifeboats. (Circular 1511.) Board of Trade (Marine Department), September, 1911. The annexed instructions are issued for the guidance of surveyors in dealing with decked boats to be carried on British ships, under the statutory rule for life-saving appliances dated the 14th June, 1911.' co H. Llewellyn Smith, Secretary. Walter J. Howell, Assistant Secretary.