270 SOCIETY NAVAL ARCHITECTS AND MARINE ENGINEERS. 



When the length of the vessel exceeds 314 meters (equivalent to 1,030 feet) the Gov- 

 ernment of the State to which the vessel belongs shall determine the minimum number of sets 

 of davits and of open boats of the first class for that vessel; full particulars of its decision 

 shall be communicated to the Governments of the other Contracting Parties 



Article XLIV. 

 handling of boats and rafts. 



The arrangements for launching boats on either side of the vessel may be made either 

 by means of appliances for transferring the boats or rafts from one side of the deck to the 

 other, or by stowing some of the boats not under davits, or rafts, in rows across the deck 

 or by any other equalty satisfactory means. 



The davits and other appliances for lowering the boats shall be placed on one or more 

 decks in such positions that the handling of the boats can be satisfactorily carried out. They 

 shall not be placed in the bows of the vessel or in places where the proximity of the pro- 

 pellers might constitute a danger to the boats at the time of launching. Boats may be 

 stowed on more than one deck only on condition that proper measures are taken to prevent 

 boats on an upper deck damaging those stowed below them. 



If several boats are served by the same set of davits arrangements shall be made to pre- 

 vent the falls fouling when they are recovered. 



Article XLV. 

 life jackets and life buoys. 



1. A life jacket shall satisfy the following conditions: 



(a) It shall be of approved material and construction; 



(b) It shall be capable of supporting in fresh water for 24 hours 6.8 kilograms of iron 

 (equivalent to 15 pounds avoirdupois). 



Life jackets the buoyancy of which depends on air compartments are prohibited. 



2. A life buoy shall satisfy the following conditions : 



(a) It shall be of solid cork or any other equivalent material; 



(b) It shall be capable of supporting in fresh water for 24 hours at least 14 kilograms 

 (equivalent to 31 pounds avoirdupois) of iron. 



Life buoys filled with rushes, cork shavings or granulated cork, or any other loose gran- 

 ulated material, or whose buoyancy depends upon air compartments which require to be in- 

 flated, are prohibited. 



3. The minimum number of life buoys with which vessels are to be provided is fixed by 

 the following table: 



