98
Notice to Shipowners and Masters.
Signalling and Signalling Lamps.
UNDER Regulation 37 of the Regulations made under the Defence of the Realm Act, British vessels are required to comply with any orders given, whether by signal or other- wise, by any Officer in command of any of His Majesty's Ships, or by any Naval or Military Officer engaged in the Defence of the Coast.
Under Regulation 37a, which comes into force on the 1st March, 1916, British ships of 500 tons or upwards, must be provided before going to sea with suitable hand flags for signalling by the Semaphore code, and with an efficient flash lamp for signalling by the Morse code. The lamp shall be of such power and size that the signals made with it are distinctly visible at a distance of three miles on a dark night in clear weather. In view of these requirements, and the penalties for non-compliance, all such ships should be provided with the necessary lamp and flags, and there should be an officer or seaman on board competent to receive and transmit signals both in the Morse and in the Semaphore code.
Further information as to the character of the signalling lamp with which ships should be provided, and as to the importance of an adequate knowledge of signalling on the part of officers of merchant ships and the standard of proficiency required from candidates for certificates, is contained in Handbill 367 and Instructions to Surveyors, Circular 1569.
Marine Department,
Board of Trade,
January, 1916.
Handbill No. 373.
ERNEST G. MOGGRIDGE, Assistant Secretary.
TRANSLATION.
Notification No. 149 of Department of Communications.
Shimonoseki Strait.
NOTICE is hereby given that, the Moji South-west Lighted Buoy, on S.W. end of the shoal in Moji Bay, Shimonoseki Strait, has recently been withdrawn.
TOKYO, March 2nd, 1916.
KATSUNDO MINOURA, Minister of State for Communications.