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(iii) In ships 330 feet (or 100 metres) in length, and upwards a double bottom shall be fitted amidships, and shall extend to the fore and afterpeak bulkheads, or as near thereto as practicable. (b) Where a double bottom is required to be fitted the inner bottom shall be continued out to the ship's sides in such a manner as to protect the bottom to the turn of the bilge. Such protection will be deemed satisfactory if the line of intersection of the outer edge of the margin plate with the bilge plating is not lower at any part than a horizontal plane passing through the point of intersection with the frame line amidships of a transverse diagonal line inclined at 25 degrees to the base line and cutting it at a point one-half the ship's moulded breadth from the middle line. (c) Small wells constructed in the double bottom in connection with drainage arrangements of holds, &c., shall not extend downwards more than necessary, nor shall they be less than 18 inches (or 457 millimetres) from the outer bottom or from the inner edge of the margin plate. A well extending to the outer bottom is, however, permitted at the after end of the shaft tunnel of screw ships. Other wells {e.g., for lubricating oil under main engines) may be permitted by the Administration, if satisfied that the arrangements give protection equivalent to that afforded by a double bottom complying with this regulation. (d) A double bottom need not be fitted in way of watertight compartments of moderate size used exclusively for the carriage of liquids, provided the safety of the ship, in the event of bottom or side damage, is not, in the opinion of the Administration, thereby impaired. (e) In the case of ships to which the provisions of paragraph (d) of Regulation 1 of this Chapter apply and which are engaged on regular service within the limits of a short international voyage as defined in Regulation 2 of Chapter 111, the Administration may permit a double bottom to be dispensed with in any part of the ship which is subdivided by a factor not exceeding -50, if satisfied that the fitting of a double bottom in that part would not be compatible with the design and proper working of the ship. Regulation 10 Assigning, Marking and Recording of Subdivision Loadlines (a) In order that the required degree of subdivision shall be maintained, a loadline corresponding to the approved subdivision draught shall be assigned and marked on the ship's sides. A ship having spaces which are specially adapted for the accommodation of passengers and the carriage of cargo alternatively may, if the owners desire, have one or more additional loadlines assigned and marked to correspond with the subdivision draughts which the Administration may approve for the alternative service conditions. (b) The subdivision loadlines assigned and marked shall be recorded in the Safety Certificate, and shall be distinguished by the notation C.l for the principal passenger condition, and C.2., C.3, &c., for the alternative conditions. (c) The freeboard corresponding to each of these loadlines shall be measured at the same position and from the same deck line as the freeboards determined in accordance with the International Convention respecting Load Lines, 1930. 9*

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