Directory_and_Chronicle_1870 — Page 618

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LAWS CONCERNING SIAMESE AND FOREIGN VESSELS.

The Line of Mooring.

327

Art. III.-The Harbour-master shall direct the masters of vessels not to moor their vessels very near the shore. The vessels shall be so moored as that they will not be liable to swing round and strike any floating house. They shall not be moored at the mouth of any canal; but shall be arranged in a line up and down the river. Masters of vessels are hereby forbidden to fasten their cable to the shore, so to form obstructions to the passage of boats near the shore.

Collision and Sinking of Vessels.

Art. IV.-If vessels come into collision with one another, and are injured, and persons lose their lives by the accident, and property be lost, or damaged to whatever amount, report must be made of it to the Harbour-master, who will then examine the matter, and report to the proper authority, who will adjudicate the case.

If a vessel coming in or going out shall spring a leak, and sink in the channel of the river, the master of the same shall employ men to remove that obstruction. But should he not do this, the Harbour-master shall cause it to be done, and whatever be the cost of that work it shall be paid by the master of said vessel.

Liabilities of Vessels not properly Moored.

Art. V.-If the master of any vessel do not abide by the 2nd and 3rd articles as above stated, and a large vessel dropping down or coming up the river, shall run against such a vessel and injure her, damages may be claimed from the vessel thus causing the injury.

If a small vessel shall run against a vessel not properly moored, and the small vessel be sunk thereby, and property damaged or lost, to whatever amount, the master of the large vessel shall pay the worth of all property lost or damaged, and pay a fine of one hundred and sixty ticals, because he did not take care to follow the directions given in articles 2nd and 3rd.

All cases of this class that exist at the present time, or that may arise in the future, and the person required thereby to pay damages, shall have any doubts as to the true worth of the property damaged or lost, the owner of said property shall, under oath administered according to the custom of his own religion, afford satisfac- tory evidence that the property lost was of the value claimed.

In all cases where a fine is imposed on masters of vessels for carelessness of the kind above stated, the money thus obtained shall become the property of the government. Cables and Ropes connecting with the Shore.

Art. VI.-If a master of a vessel would remove from his berth and moor close in shore for the purpose of receiving merchandise, or for any other advantage, and shall in the day-time fasten ropes to the land to bring her in to shore, it shall not be unlawful. But the ropes must not be thus engaged in the night time.

If a vessel shall remove from her berth to receive merchandise, and be fastened close to a wharf, one or two abreast of each other, but not so that the way for the passing of boats outside shall be obstructed or shall put into shore to cast out ballast, or do any thing else, and the vessel be in close contact with the shore or wharf, and there be left no passage for boats between her and the shore, ropes may in such cases be extended from her to the shore, for the purpose of retaining her in her place.

The Royal Barges, seats of either the first or second king, are allowed to be moored in front of the royal palaces; and although their cables and ropes be made fast to the shore, it shall not be unlawful, because they are near the seats of the kings on the bank of the river, it not being suitable that any persons besides those engaged in royal service should come near to them.

If any one attempt to pass between the said Barges and the Royal seats on the river's bank, and run against their cables or ropes, and the boat be capsized, all damages thus resulting shall be suffered by the owner of the boat, because the act had been forbidden. There are only two such places, viz. :-one in front of the first King's Palace, and one in front of the second King's Palace. Again-masters of boats in the canals, laden with goods, coming out to moor in the river with the view to sell

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