RULES FOR HARBORS UNDER LOCAL ACTS TO CONTINUE IN FORCE. 31. Any rules concerning the lights or signals to be carried by vessels navigating the waters of any harbor, river, or other inland navigation, or concerning the steps for avoiding collision to be taken by such vessels, which have been or are hereafter made by or under the authority of any local act, shall continue and be of full force and effect, notwithstanding anything in this act or in the schedule thereto contained. IN HARBORS AND RIVERS WHERE NO SUCH RULES EXIST THEY MAY BE MADE. 32. In the case of any harbor, river, or other inland navigation for which such rules are not and cannot be made by or under the authority of any local act, it shall be lawful for Her Majesty in Council, upon application from the harbor trust or body corporate, if any, owning or exercising jurisdiction upon the waters of such harbor, river, or inland navigation, or, if there is no such harbor trust or body corporate, upon application from persons interested in the navigation of such waters, to make rules concerning the lights or signals to be carried, and concerning the steps for avoiding collision to be taken by vessels navigating such waters; and such rules, when so made, shall, so far as regards vessels navigating such waters, have the same effect as if they were regulations contained in Table (C) in the schedule to this act, notwithstanding anything in this act or in the schedule thereto contained. IN CASE OF COLLISION ONE SHIP SHALL ASSIST THE OTHER. 33. In every case of collision between two ships it shall be the duty of the person in charge of each ship, if and so far as he can do so without danger to his own ship and crew, to render to the other ship, her master, crew, and passengers, (if any,) such assistance as may be practicable and as may be necessary in order to save them from any danger caused by the collision. In case he fails so to do, and no reasonable excuse for such failure is shown, the collision shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be deemed to have been caused by his wrongful act, neglect, or default; and such failure shall also, if proved upon any investigation held under the third or the eighth part of the principal act, be deemed to be an act of misconduct or a default for which his certificate (if any) may be canceled or suspended. RULE OF THE ROAD FOR STEAMERS. IN FOUR VERSES. BY THOMAS GRAY. REPRINTED BY BUREAU OF NAVIGATION. 1. Two Steamships meeting end on, or nearly end on: When you see three Lights ahead! 2. Two Steamships passing: For Steamers passing you should try 3. Two Steamships crossing: This is the real position of danger. The Steamship that has the other on her own Starboard side There is nothing for it but good lookout, caution, and judgment. 'Tis your duty to keep clear: Act as judgment says is proper— Port-or Starboard-back-or, stop her! But when on your Port is seen A Steamer with a light of Green, There's not.so much for you to do— The Green light must keep clear of you. 4. All ships must keep a good lookout, and Steamships must stop and go astern, if necessary. Both in safety and in doubt Always keep a good lookout; Should there not be room to turn, RULE OF THE ROAD; BEING AIDS TO MEMORY, IN FOUR VERSES. BY THOMAS GRAY. [These verses are mere aids to memory, and must in no case supersede a careful study of the authentic Regulations.] 1. Two Steamships meeting: When both side lights you see ahead Port your helm, and show 2. Two Steamships passing: and show your RED. GREEN to GREEN-or, RED to RED 3. Two Steamships crossing: NOTE. This is the position of greatest danger; there is nothing for it but good lookout, caution, and judgment. If to your starboard RED appear, It is your duty to keep clear; To act as judgment says is proper To Port-or Starboard-Back-or, Stop her! But when upon your Port is seen A Steamer's starboard light of GREEN, There's not so much for you to do, For GREEN to port keeps clear of you. 4. All Ships must keep a good lookout, and Steamships must stop and go astern, if necessary. Both in safety and in doubt In danger, with no room to turn, OCTOBER 14, 1867. ADDENDUM. AN ACT to amend the act entitled "An act further to provide for the safety of the lives of passengers on board of vessels propelled in whole or in part by steam, to regulate the salaries of steamboat inspectors, and for other purposes," approved July [25, 1866] twenty-five, eighteen hundred and sixty-six. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section nine of the act entitled "An act to amend the act entitled 'An act further to provide for the safety of the lives of passengers on board of vessels propelled in whole or in part by steam, to regulate the salaries of steamboat inspectors, and for other purposes,"" approved July twenty-five, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, be, and the same is hereby, amended so as to read as follows: SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That all vessels navigating the bags, [bays,] inlets, rivers, harbors, and other waters of the United States, except vessels subject to the jurisdiction of a foreign power and engaged in foreign trade, and not owned in whole or in part by a citizen of the United States, shall be subject to the navigation laws of the United States; and all vessels propelled in whole or in part by steam, and navigating as aforesaid, shall also be subject to all rules and regulations consistent therewith, established for the government of steam vessels in passing, as provided in the twenty-ninth section of an act relating to steam vessels, approved the thirtieth day of August, eighteen hundred and fifty-two. And every sea-going steam vessel now subject, or hereby made subject, to the navigation laws of the United States, and to the rules and regulations aforesaid, shall, when under way, except upon the high seas, be under the control and direction of pilots licensed by the inspectors of steam vessels; vessels of other countries and public vessels of the United States only excepted: Provided, however, That nothing in this act, or in the act of which it is amendatory, shall be construed to annul or affect any regulation established by the existing law of any State requiring vessels entering or leaving a port in such State to take a pilot duly licensed or authorized by the laws of such State, or of a State situate upon the waters of the same port. Approved February 25, 1867. |