INSPECTION OF VESSELS 87 



(5) Bilge systems for the removal of liquid from the various 

 parts of the vessel, including, but not limited to, design, installation, 

 capacity, composition, functioning, manning, testing, and inspection. 



(b) (1) In prescribing rules and regulations pursuant to this 

 section, the Secretary shall give consideration to the age, size, service, 

 route, and other factors affecting the operation of the vessels. 



(2) Unless otherwise prescribed by treaty or other international 

 agreement, the rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary 

 pursuant to this section shall be applic^able to all foreign vessels carry- 

 ing passengers from ports of tlie United States. 



(3) Tlie Secretary may, upon his own motion, or upon the ap- 

 plication of any interested party, determine that the application to 

 any vessel of the rules and regulations prescribed pursuant to this 

 section, or any part, thereof, is not necessary in the public interest, 

 and he may order such vessel exempt from their application upon 

 such tenns and conditions and for such periods of time as he may 

 specify in the order. 



(c) The owner or operator of any vessel who neglects or refuses 

 to provide and equip his vessel with the lifesaving, firefighting, or 

 other equipment, or take other measures required by the rules or regu- 

 lations issued pursuant to this section shall be liable to the United 

 States in a penalty of $1,000 for each such neglect or refusal for 

 which sum the vessel shall be liable and may be seized and proceeded 

 against by way of libel in any district court of the United States 

 having jurisdiction of the violation; and any master or person in 

 charge of such vessel who so defaults shall be liable to a penalty of 

 $500. 



(d) Any person who willfully and knowingly manufactures or 

 sells, or offers for sale, or has in his possession with intent to sell, any 

 lifesaving, firefighting, or other equipment subject to the provisions 

 of title 52 of the Kevised Statutes, as amended, which is so defective 

 as to be inefficient to accomplish the purpose for which it is intended, 

 shall be fined not more than $10,000 and may, in addition thereto, in 

 the discretion of the Court, be imprisoned for a term not exceeding 

 five years. 



Delegation of Functions 



The following Treasury Department Order 167-38 (24 F.R. 8857) 

 was issued by the Acting Secretary of the Treasury under date of 

 October 26, 1959: 



By virtue of the authority vested in me by Reorganization Plan 

 No. 26 of 1950 and by 14 U.S.C. 631, there are transferred to the Com- 

 mandant, U.S. Coast Guard, the functions of the Secretary of the 

 Treasurv under Public Law 86-244, approved September 9, 1959 

 (R.S. 4488, as amended; 73 Stat. 475, 476; 46 U.S.C. 481), with re- 

 spect to lifesaving equipment, firefighting equipment, muster lists, 

 ground tackle, hawsers, bilge sys^^ems aboard vessels, etc. 



The Commandant may make provision for the performance by sub- 

 ordinates in the Coast Guard of any of the functions transferred 

 except the functions of prescribing rules and regulations. 



