EMERGENCY PLAN FOR SHIPPING

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22676, 3 April 1939, Page 10

EMERGENCY PLAN FOR SHIPPING

ADMIRALTY NOTICES

GAZETTED

SPECIAL METHODS OF

COMMUNICATION

INSTRUCTIONS TO MASTERS

OF BRITISH SHIPS

Notice to masters of British ships about the organisation - that has been built up for the transmission of messages in. a time of crisis, and of the fact that it may be necessary to forbid entrance to certain ports in the Empire, and of the conduct to be observed in such cases, was gazetted in New Zealand last week. The regulations, which are reprints of Admiralty notices, detail the signals for which merchant vessels are to watch, and emphasise that their coverage is for the whole British Empire and not only for the waters adjacent to the British Isles. Passages descriptive of the organisation* for the broadcast of emergency messages and of the approach to ports when the control system is in force are given below: — British Official Wireless “This organisation provides for the trarismissiojj of important messages to British merchantmen in any p§rt of the world bn occasions when such messages may be of vital importance to their safety and welfare. From the details given below it will be seen that arrangements have been made for such messages to be transmitted at certain scheduled times b" r Rugby and other selected British wireless telegraph stations in various parts of the w0r1d..,, “Tests of the organisation, lasting for one 4 week, are held at irregular inter* vals. British merchant ships are earnestly requested to listen for the messages broadcast during these tests and forward particulars of those received. .These reports, together .with copies of messages received, should be rendered by operators to the masters of their ships* and transmitted by the latter to the shipowners, who will forward them to tlje Board of Trade, London. Reports from ships in Area 11. proceeding to New Zealand ports at the time of the broadcast, should be forwarded to the Navv Office and Marine Department, Wellington. . - “The attainment of an, organisation of maximum efficiency is largely _ dependent upon the information obtained from these reports, and the co-opera-tion of individual £hips of the British Merchant Navy will» therefore, be oi the utmost assistance.” ■ The world has been divided into 11, areas and collective call signs have been introduced for (i) all. British merchant ships, and (ii) British merchant ships in a particular area. j

Closing of Ports “(1) My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, having taken into consideration the fact that it may be necessary to forbid all entrance to certain ports of the Empire, this is' to give notice that on approaching the shores of the British Isles, or any of the ports or localities of the British Empire, a sharp look-out should be kept for the signals described in the following paragraph. In the event of such signals being displayed, the port or locality should be approached with great caution, as it may be apprehended that obstructions may exist. • ..... , “(2) If entrance to a port is prohibited, three red lights vertically disposed by night, or three red balls vertically disposed by day, will be exhibited in some conspicuous position, in or near to its approach, which signals will also be shown by certain vessels. If these signals are displayed, vessels must approach the port with the greatest caution and implicitly obey all orders or signals given them by the examination vessel or signal station. “(3) At some ports or localities at home or abroad, searchlights .are occasionally exhibited for exercise. Instructions have been given to avoid directing movable searchlights during practice on to vessels under way, but mariners are warned that care should be taken to keep a sharp lookout for the signals ■ indicated when searchlights are observed to be working. . , “In approaching by night any port in the British Empire, serious delay and risk will be avoided if four efficient all round lanterns, two red and two white, are kept available for use. “Masters are warned that, before attempting to enter any port when the examination service is in force, they must in their own interests strictly obey all instructions given them by the examination steamer. While at anchor in the examination anchorage, masters are warned that it is forbidden, except for the purpose of avoiding accident, to do any of the following things', without permission from the exarpining officer: to lower any boat, to. communicate with the shore or other ships, to move the ship, to work cables, to allow any person or thing to leave the ship.. Mine-sweeping Operations “His Majesty’s vessels engaged in mine-sweeping operations or exercises are hampered to a considerable extent in the manoeuvring powers. With a view to indicating the nature of the work on which they are engaged, these vessels will show the signals hereinafter. mentioned. For the public safety all other vessels, whether steamers or sailing craft, should endeavour to keep out of the way of vessels flying these signals and not approach them inside the distances mentioned herein, specially remembering that it is dangerous to pass between the vessels of a pair or group sweeping together.”