222 SOCIETY NAVAL ARCHITECTS AND MARINE ENGINEERS. 



Article 27. 



DOUBLE BOTTOMS. 



The conditions under which a double bottom shall be fitted in vessels of different 

 lengths, and in particular the minimum extent of the double bottom longitudinally and 

 transversely, are indicated in Article XXI of the annexed Regulations. 



Article 28. 



GOING ASTERN AND AUXILIARY STEERING APPARATUS. 



Vessels shall comply, as regards their power of going astern and the fitting of auxil- 

 iary steering apparatus, with the provisions of Articles XXII and XXIII of the annexed 

 Regulations. 



Article 29. 



INITIAL AND SUBSEQUENT SURVEYS OF VESSELS. 



The general principles which shall govern the survey of the vessels defined in Article 

 2, whether new or existing, as regards hull, main and auxiliary boilers and machinery, and 

 equipments, are stated in Articles XXIV to XXVI of the annexed Regulations. The Gov- 

 ernment of each of the High Contracting Parties undertakes — 



(1) To draw up detailed regulations in accordance with these general principles, or 

 to bring its existing regulations into agreement with these principles; 



(2) To communicate these regulations to each of the other contracting States; and 



(3) To secure that these regulations shall be enforced. 



The detailed regulations referred to in the preceding paragraphs shall be in all respects 

 such as to secure that, from the point of view of safety of life, the vessel is fit for the serv- 

 ice for which it is intended. 



Article 30. 



QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY AND AGREEMENT — ^EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION. 



The High Contracting Parties undertake to cause the study of the criterion of service 

 referred to in Article 17 to be pressed forward, and to communicate to each other the re- 

 sults of that study. 



The British Government is invited to undertake the duty of circulating this informa- 

 tion, and, as soon as a definite result is attainable, of endeavoring to secure, through the dip- 

 lomatic channel, the acceptance by the contracting States of the criterion. Upon its accept- 

 ance by each of the contracting States, as from a date and subject to the conditions to be 

 agreed upon, such criterion shall have effect as if it were prescribed in the Convention. 



The above procedure shall also be applied to the following items : 



( 1 ) The fitting of longitudinal watertight bulkheads, double skins and watertight decks 

 and flats, and the question whether there may be allowed any increase in the length of 

 transverse watertight compartments in way of which such longitudinal subdivision is fitted, 

 and, if so, to what extent ; 



(2) The method of subdivision for obtaining the highest practicable degree of safety to 

 be applied to vessels of shorter lengths than those covered by Article VIII of the an- 

 nexed Regulations; and 



