Merchant Shipping (Safety and Load Line Conventions) Act 1932

AS REGARDS CONSTRUCTION.

1. Stability.

The necessity for and practicability of adopting stability regulations have been considered by this Conference, and the opinion has been reached that at this time it is practicable to adopt only the general requirement for stability tests on new passenger ships contained in Article 8. The Conference desires, however, to draw the attention of the Contracting Governments to the desirability of a study by each Administration of the subject of stability for the different national types of ships and trades, and of the exchange of information on this subject between these Contracting Governments.

2. Openings in Bulkheads and Ship's Sides.

The objection which attaches to openings, which may sometimes be open at sea, in the sides of ships and in the main transverse watertight bulkheads is recognised by this Conference, but it is the sense of the Conference that it is not at this time practicable to adopt international regulations concerning such openings which are more exacting than those incorporated in the Regulations. The Conference recommends, however, that the various Governments make special effort to assure that the number of such openings, particularly hinged sidescuttles below the margin line and doors low down in the machinery space bulkheads, be kept at the minimum required in each case.

3. Services of Special Risk.

The International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea realises that there are trades, such as the passenger services between England and the nearby Continental ports, in which the sea risks are, owing to weather and traffic conditions, exceptional, and where it is practicable, owing to the absence of general cargo, to adopt a higher standard of subdivision than that prescribed by the Convention. The Conference, therefore, recommends that the Contracting Governments concerned consider the adoption, in the case of ships primarily engaged in the carriage of passengers in such trades, of such improved standards of subdivision as may be found reasonable and practicable.