226 SOCIETY NAVAL ARCHITECTS AND MARINE ENGINEERS. 



Every master of a vessel in distress has the right to requisition from among the vessels 

 which answer his call for assistance the vessel or vessels which he considers best able to 

 render him assistance, but he must exercise this right only after consultation, so far as may be 

 possible, with the masters of those vessels. Such vessels are then bound to comply imme- 

 diately with the requisition by proceeding with all speed to the assistance of the persons in 

 distress. 



The masters of the vessels which are required to render assistance are released from 

 this obligation as soon as the master or masters requisitioned have made known that they 

 will comply with the requisition, or as soon as the master of one of the vessels which has 

 reached the scene of the casualty has made known to them that their assistance is no longer 

 necessary. 



If the master of a vessel is unable, or considers it unreasonable or unnecessary, in the 

 special circumstances of the case, to go to the assistance of the vessel in distress, he must 

 immediately inform the master of the vessel in distress accordingly. Moreover he must enter 

 in his log book the reasons justifying his action. 



The above provisions do not prejudice the International Convention for the unification 

 of certain rules with respect to Assistance and Salvage at Sea, signed at Brussels on the 

 23rd September, 1910, and, in particular, the obligation to render assistance laid down in 

 Article 11 of that Convention. 



Article 38. 



The High Contracting Parties undertake to take all steps necessary for giving efifect to 

 the provisions of this Chapter with the least possible delay. Nevertheless, they may allow — 

 A delay not exceeding one year, from the date of the ratification of this Conven- 

 tion, for the provision and training of operators and for the installation of the apparatus 

 on vessels placed in the First and Second Classes. 



A delay not exceeding two years, from the date of the ratification of this Conven- 

 tion, for the provision and training of the operators and watchers on the vessels in the 

 Third Class, for the installation of the apparatus on vessels in the Third Class, and for 

 the establishment of a continuous watch on vessels placed in the Second and Third 

 Classes. 



Chapter VI. — Life- Saving Appliances and Fire Protection. 



Article 39. 



NEW VESSELS AND EXISTING VESSELS. 



For the application of the Articles contained in this chapter and of the correspond- 

 ing part of the Regulations annexed hereto the vessels defined in Article 2 are divided into 

 new vessels and existing vessels. 



New vessels are those of which the keel is laid after the 31st December. 1914. 



Other vessels are considered as existing vessels. 



Article 40. 



FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE. 



At no moment of its voyage may a vessel have on board a total number of persons 

 greater than that for whom accommodation is provided in the lifeboats and the pontoon life 

 rafts on board. 



