306 SOCIETY NAVAL ARCHITECTS AND MARINE ENGINEERS. 



ment of the ship was recognized by the conference as the last resort and under modern con- 

 ditions of navigation, which the convention aims to improve, the occasions will be rare when 

 all on board a ship must leave it with no other ship near enough to offer prompt assistance. 

 Even on such rare occasions, storm or high waves sometimes, of course, render the success- 

 ful launching of loaded lifeboats from high decks impossible. 



When all on board the ship must leave, the convention recognizes that the work of the 

 entire crew is transferred from the ship to the lifeboats, and in some cases, as already indi- 

 cated, to life rafts. The preparations which must be made for emergencies are stated in 

 Articles 54 and 56 and Articles XLVII and XL VIII. There must be, under Article 54, for 

 each boat or raft required a minimum number of certificated lifeboat men, not less than 

 three for each lifeboat or life raft. (Article XLVII.) The certificated lifeboat man, by 

 Article 54, is "Any member of the crew who holds a certificate of efficiency issued under the 

 authority of the administration concerned in accordance with Article XLVII." Article 

 XLVJI provides that to obtain a lifeboat man's certificate — 



"the applicant must prove that he has been trained in all the operations connected with 

 launching lifeboats and the use of oars; that he is acquainted with the practical handling of 

 the boats themselves; and, further, that he is capable of understanding and answering the 

 orders relative to lifeboat service. 



"There shall be for each boat or raft a number of lifeboat men at least equal to that speci- 

 fied in the following table : 



The minimum number 



•• of certificated lifeboat 



If the boat or raft carries — ■ men shall be— 



Less than 61 persons V 3 



From 61 to 85 persons 4 



From 86 to 1 10 persons 5 



From 111 to 1 60 persons 6 



From 161 to 210 persons 7 



and, thereafter, one additional certificated lifeboat man for each additional 50 persons." 



MEASURES AGAINST FIRE. 



The provisions against fire are found in Articles 19 and 55 of the convention and Ar- 

 ticles XII, XLIX, L, and LI of the Regulations. 



To prevent fire Article 55 (1) prohibits the carriage either as cargo or ballast of goods 

 which by reason of their nature, quantity, or mode of storage are, either singly or col- 

 lectively, likely to endanger the lives of passengers or the safety of the vessel. 



The division of the ship below the bulkhead deck into watertight compartments is con- 

 sidered in another place. These watertight bulkheads, of course, secure protection against 

 the spread of fire below the margin line. Above the margin line fireproof bulkheads are re- 

 quired by Article XII. Further to check the spread of fire a continuous patrol system is 

 prescribed by Article XLIX for the prompt detection of fire. The apparatus for extinguish- 

 ing fire is described in Article XLIX, and fire musters and drills are required by Articles 

 L and LI. 



