520
boats of Sec-
tions A and B.
Determina-
tion of number of
persons to be carried by life-raft.
Buoyant apparatus.
Life-belts.
Life-buoys.
Position of
life-belts and life-buoys.
No. 10.]
THE ORDINANCES OF HONGKONG: [A.D. 1899
preceding Rule, shall be equipped as follows (but not more than four boats in any one ship require to have this outfit)
(a.) with two hatchets or tomahawks, one to be kept in each end of the boat and to be attached to the boat by a lanyard;
(b.) with a mast or masts and with at least one good sail and proper gear for each;
(c.) with a line in loops run round the outside of the boat and securely made fast;
(d.) with an efficient compass;
(e.) with one gallon of vegetable or animal oil in a vessel of approved pattern for distributing it in the water in rough weather; and
(f.) with a lantern trimmed, with oil in its receiver sufficient to burn eight hours.
7. The number of persons that any approved life-raft for use at sea shall be deemed to be capable of carrying shall be determined with reference to each separate pattern approved by the Government Marine Surveyor. Provided always that for every person so carried there shall be at least 3 cubic feet of strong and serviceable enclosed air-tight compartments, such that water cannot find its way into them. Any approved life-raft of other construction may be used, provided that it has equivalent buoyancy to that herein before described. Every such approved life-raft shall be marked in such a way as plainly to indicate the number of adult persons it can carry.
8. Approved buoyant apparatus shall be deemed sufficient for a number of persons to be ascertained by dividing the number of pounds of iron which it is capable of supporting in fresh water by 32. Such buoyant apparatus shall not require to be inflated before use, shall be of approved construction, and marked in such a way as plainly to indicate the number of persons for whom it is sufficient.
9. An approved life-belt shall mean a belt which does not require to be inflated before use, and which is capable of floating in the water for at least 24 hours with 15 lbs. of iron suspended from it.
10. An approved life-buoy shall mean either-
(a.) a life-buoy built of solid cork and fitted with life lines and loops securely seized to the life-buoy and capable of floating in the water for at least 24 hours with 32 lbs. of iron suspended from it; or
(b.) a strong life-buoy of any other approved pattern and material provided that it is capable of floating in the water for at least 24 hours with 32 lbs. of iron suspended from it, and provided, also, that it is not stuffed with rushes, cork shavings, or loose granulated cork, or other loose material, and does not require to be inflated before use.
11. All life-belts and life-buoys shall be so placed as to be readily accessible to the persons on board, and so that their position may be known to those for whose use they are intended.