304 SOCIETY NAVAL ARCHITECTS AND MARINE ENGINEERS. 



Seating accommodations must be provided for all carried on pontoon boats and rafts 

 without interfering with the use of oars. (Art. XXXV.) 



Detailed equipment for lifeboats and life rafts is provided in Article XL. Details of types 

 of construction and measurement of lifeboats and rafts are provided in Articles XXVIII, 

 XXIX, XXX, XXXI, XXXII, XXXIII, XXXIV, XXXV, XXXVI, XXXVII, XXXVIII. 



APPLICATION AND EXCEPTIONS. 



Under the chapter on life-saving appliances and fire protection new vessels are defined 

 (Art. 39) as those of which the keel is laid after December 31, 1914, and all other vessels 

 are considered existing vessels. The convention is to take effect on July 1, 1915 (Art. 69), 

 but each Government undertakes to enforce all the chapter on life-saving appliances on ex- 

 isting vessels "as soon as possible and not later than the 1st of July, 1915" (Art. 52). 

 Exception may be made, however, in the following requirements if a strict application "would 

 not be practicable or reasonable" (Art. 52) : 



Art. XLVI. (a) The types of boats and rafts now approved by governments may be ac- 

 cepted in lieu of the convention types, and (b) the double thickness of bottom and deck and 

 the new freeboard of pontoon boats may not be required, (c) In vessels between 245 and 

 460 feet one less set of davits and in vessels over 460 feet one less set of davits on each side 

 may be allowed "only, if proper provision is made for launching the boats." 



That some time should be allowed to make the necessary changes was generally con- 

 ceded, but the time limit was extended to January 1, 1920, by a vote of 8 to 5. The Ameri- 

 can delegation opposed so long an extension, as did the British. 



The provisions that each pair of davits shall be strong enough to lower a fully loaded 

 lifeboat when the ship has a list of 15 degrees, and that every boat must be strong enough 

 to be lowered fully loaded, are not compulsorily applicable on all existing vessels. 



LIFE JACKETS AND LIFE BUOYS. 



Life jackets for all on board, and an additional supply of smaller sizes for children, are 

 required by Article 51. The same article requires a supply of life buoys, the number and 

 particulars of which are prescribed in Article XLV. For at least half of the life buoys self- 

 igniting lights which cannot be extinguished in water must be ready at hand. 



EMERGENCY LIGHTING. 



Special provision is made by Article 53 for the lighting of decks and compartments in 

 case of accidents disabling the ship's main hghting plant. Provision must be made for light- 

 ing the different parts of vessels, particularly the boat deck, and on new vessels an emergency 

 lighting plant must be installed as high as possible in the upper parts of the vessel. This 

 emergency lighting system will probably be installed in connection with the emergency wire- 

 less system. The same article requires the exit from every compartment to be lighted by an 

 emergency lamp, independent of the regular lighting plant. 



