INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA. 217 



other cause of force majeure compels it to take refuge in a port of one of the States of 

 the High Contracting Parties. 



Chapter III. — Safety of Navigation. 



Article 5. 



When the expression "every vessel" is used in this Chapter and in the corresponding 

 part of the annexed Regulations, it includes all merchant vessels whether they are the ves- 

 sels defined in Article 2 or not which belong to any of the Contracting States. 



Article 6. 



The High Contracting Parties undertake to take all steps to insure the destruction of 

 derelicts in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean east of a line drawn from Cape Sable to a 

 point situated in latitude 34° north and longitude 70° west. Further, they will establish in 

 the North Atlantic with the least possible delay a service for the study and observation of ice 

 conditions and a service of ice patrol. For this purpose : 



Two vessels shall be charged with these three services. 



During the whole of the ice season, they shall be employed in ice patrol. 



During the rest of the year the two vessels shall be employed in the study and observa- 

 tion of ice conditions and in the destruction of derelicts ; nevertheless the study and observa- 

 tion of ice conditions shall be effectively maintained, in particular from the beginning of 

 February to the opening of the ice season. 



While the two vessels are employed in ice patrol the High Contracting Parties, to the 

 extent of their ability and so far as the exigencies of the Naval Service will permit, will 

 send warships or other vessels to destroy any dangerous derelicts, if this destruction is con- 

 sidered necessary at that time. 



Article 7. 



The Government of the United States is invited to undertake the management of the 

 three services of derelict destruction, study and observation of ice conditions, and ice patrol. 

 The High Contracting Parties which are specially interested in these services, and whose 

 names are given below, undertake to contribute to the expense of establishing and work- 

 ing the said services in the following proportions: 



Per cent. Pei cent. 



Austria-Hungary 2 Italy 4 



Belgium 4 Netherlands ; 4 



Canada 2 Norway 3 



Denmark ; 2 Russia 2 



France 15 Sweden 2 



Germany 15 United States of America 15 



Great Britain 30 



Each of the High Contracting Parties has the right to discontinue its contribution to 

 the expense of working these services after the 1st September, 1916. Nevertheless, the 

 High Contracting Party which avails itself of this right will continue responsible for the 



