INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA. 289 



The propositions submitted to the conference by the representatives of Great Britain, 

 Germany, and France were dissimilar in certain vital respects. The problem of obtaining 

 concerted action seemed, therefore, so difficult as to render it doubtful if it would be pos- 

 sible, in the time at the disposal of the conference, to reach definite conclusions with respect 

 to that most important subject — the safety of construction of the ship itself. The committee 

 intrusted with this portion of the work of the conference organized promptly and held numer- 

 ous sessions. As an evidence of the degree of consideration given to this subject, it is worthy 

 of note that the committee, through its full membership or subcommittees, held 51 formal and 

 numerous additional informal meetings. Space does not permit nor does it seem necessary 

 to go into the details of the work of the committee, the results attained being clearly set forth 

 in the convention itself and the annexed regulations. 



The following list of subjects considered is interesting, however, and indicates the char- 

 acter and extent of the work of the committee on safety of construction : 



QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION OF SUBCOMMITTEES. 



FIRST SUBCOMMITTEE. 



"1. In the subdivision of vessels into watertight compartments, latitude to be given in 

 the use of transverse and longitudinal bulkheads and combinations of same in order that the 

 prescribed requirements as to buoyancy under damaged conditions may be met in the most ad- 

 vantageous manner in any particular design. Where longitudinal bulkheads are introduced, 

 provision of adequate transverse stability under damaged conditions to be secured. 



"2. Stability calculations to be made for all vessels constructed and stability curves fur- 

 nished to masters and owners of vessels, with full explanatory notes indicating condition 

 of vessel when light and loaded under certain definite conditions, and safe limitations of 

 loading with cargoes of various densities. 



"3. Definitions : Length, breadth, depth, freeboard, draught, sheer, margin of safety line, 

 floating line, coefficient of permeability, and any other terms of which the exact meanings 

 may be of importance in the principles enunciated. 



"4. Limit of size of ships to which rules shall be applied. 



"What is the smallest length or least size of foreign-going ocean passenger vessel vi^hich 

 can be so subdivided that under average conditions of loading she will not be submerged 

 beyond the bulkhead deck with any (a) three adjacent compartments, (b) two adjacent 

 compartments, (c) one compartment, in free communication with the sea? 



"5. Lower limit of number of passengers carried. What is the smallest number of pas- 

 sengers or persons on board a foreign-going ocean passenger vessel that should make the 

 vessel subject to rules as to subdivision ? 



"6. Method of giving practical effect to general principles enunciated in paragraphs 2 to 

 5 of 'suggested general principles' adopted at meeting of full committee on November 25, 

 1913. 



"Paragraph 2. System of curves or tables for determining spacing and height of bulk- 

 heads. 



"If the system of curves or tables provided is such as to take into account all the geo- 

 metrical characteristics of a vessel, should direct calculations be permitted, and if so, under 

 what conditions and limitations. 



"Paragraph 3. Permeability. 



"Should the permeability assumed to be based on the water-excluding properties of the 

 various spaces, and, if so, can average coefficients of permeability be assigned to the different 

 classes of spaces, and what should these average coefficients be? 



"If the permeability assumed has some other basis than that described above, what should 

 that basis be ? 



