724911-1858-GOVERNMENT-NOTIFICATION-NO-54 — Page 2

The Hongkong Government Gazette,

[JUNE 12, 1858.

ADMIRALTY NOTICE RESPECTING LIGHTS AND FOG SIGNALS TO BE CARRIED AND USED BY

SEA-GOING VESSELS, TO PREVENT COLLISION.

By The Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, &c. The virtue of the power and authority vested in us, we hereby revoke, as from and after the thirtieth day of September 1858, the Rogula- le and published by us on the first day of May 1852, relating to the Lights to be carried by Sea-going Vessels to prevent collision: we hereby make the following Regulations, and require and direct that the same be strictly observed and carried into effect on and after

day of October, 1858.

STEAM VESSELS.

All Sea-going Steam Vessels, when under Steam, shall, between sunset and sunrise, exhibit the following Lights:

1. A bright. White Light at the Foremast IIead.

A Green Light on the Starboard side.

A Red Light on the Port side.

2. The Mast-head Light shall be so constructed as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least 5 mites, and shall show an uniform and unbroken light over an are of the horizon of 20 points of the compass, and it shall be so fixed as to Grow the light 10 points on each side of the ship, viz: from right ahead to 2 points abaft the beam on either side.

3. The Green Light on the Starboard side and the Red Light on the Port side shall be so constructed as to be visible on a dark night with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least 2 miles, and show an uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 10 points of the compass, and they shall be so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to 2 points abaft the beam on the Starboard and on the Port sides respectively.

4. The Side Lights are to be fitted with inboard screens projecting at least 3 feet forward from the light, so as to prevent the lights trom being seen across the bow.

5. Steam Vessels under Sail only are not to carry their Masthead Light.

Fog Signals.

All Sea-going Steam Vessels, whether propelled by paddles or screws, when their steam is up, and when under way, shall in all cases of Fog use as a Fog Signal a Steam Whistle, placed before the Funnel at not less than 8 feet from the deck, which shall be sounded once at least every five minutes; but when the steam is not up, they shall use a Fog Horn or Bell, as ordered for Sailing Ships.

SAILING VESSELS.

1. All Sea-going Sailing Vessels when under way or being towed shall between sunset and sunrise exhibit a Green Light on the Storboard side and a Red Light on the Port side of the vessel, and such Lights shall be so constructed as to be visible on a dark night, with 4 ei-ar atmosphere, at a distance of at least 2 miles, and shall show an uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 10 points of De compass, from right a-bead to 2 points abaft the beam on the Starboard and on the Port sides respectively.

2. The Coloured Lights shall be fixed whenever it is practicable so to exhibit them; and shall be fitted with inboard screens projecting at least 3 feet forward from the Light, so as to prevent the Lights being seen across the bow.

3. When the Coloured Lights cannot be fixed (as in the case of small vessels in bad weather), they shall be kept on deck between sunset and sunrise, and on their proper sides of the vessel ready for instant exhibition, and shall be exhibited in such a manner as can be best seen on the approach of, or to, any other vessel or vessels, in sufficient time to avoid collision, and so that the Green Light shall not be seen on the Port side, nor the Red Light on the Starboard side.

Fog Signals.

All Sea-going Sailing Vessels when under way, shall, in all cases of Fog, use when on the Starboard Tack a Fog Horn, and when on the Port Tack shall Ring a Bell. These signals shall be sounded once at least every five minutes.

SAILING PILOT VESSELS are to carry only a white Light at the Mast-head, and are to exhibit a Flare-up Light every 15 minutes, in accordance with Trinity House regulation.

VESSELS AT ANCHOR.

All Sea-going Vessels when at anchor in roadsteads or fairways shall, between sunset and sunrise, exhibit where it can best be seen, but at a height not exceeding 20 feet above the hull, a White Light in a Globular Lantern of 8 inches in diameter, and so constructed as to show a clear, uniform, and unbroken light all round the horizon, at a distance of at least 1 mile.

Given under our hands this 24th day of February 1858.

CHARLES WOOD.

R. S. DUNDAS.

By Command of their Lordships,

W. G. ROMAINE,

Secretary.

The following Diagrams are intended to illustrate the use of the Lights carried by vessels at sea, and the manner in which they indicate

to the vessel which sees them the position and description of the vessel which carries them :-

FIRST.--When both Red and Green Lights are seen -

A sees a Red and Green Light ahead;—A knows that a vessel is approaching her on a course directly opposite to her own, as B ;

A

If A sees a White Mast-head Light above the other two, she knows that B is a steam-vessel.

SECOND, When the Red, and not the Green light, is deen :

A sees a Red Light ahead or on the bow ;-A knows that either,

1, a vessel is approaching her on her port bow, as B;