SAFETY OF SHIPS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 52, 24 November 1917, Page 8

SAFETY OF SHIPS

INSPECTION OF CARGO

GUARDS OVER SHIPS IN PORT

IMPORTANT REGULATIONS

Very important War Regulations to provide for the safety of ships in port, and for the inspection of cargo before it is shipped, wore published last night in a Gazette Extraordinary. Following is tho full list of the regulations :— While an oversea ship is in any port no cargo, stores, baggage, or other goods or articles of any description whatsoever shall bo laden, taken, cr placed on board that ship' until passed for shipment thereon by an examining officer (who may be tho Collector of Customs for the port or other officer appointed by him). Every person who is in any nianiior concerned in lading, taking, or placing, or in attempting to lade, take, or place upon any oversea ship any cargo, stores, bnggngo, goods, or articles in breach of tho foregoing provisions, or who is in any manner concerned in deceiving or obstructing or in attempting to deceive or obstruct an examining officer in tho exercise of his authority under these regulations, shall be guilty of an offonce against those, regulations, and shall he liable accordingly. An examining officer shall not nass for shipment any cargo, stores, bagcage, goods, or articles until and unFras ho is satisfied that, thoro is no ground for suspecting that tho shipment thereof will.bo a souroo of danger to tho ship or 1 to its cargo. An esaminins officer may, if ne thinks it advisable so to do, open cr require to be oponed for the purnoso of examination any package (.r other rocpptndo brought or found upon any wharf or intended for shipment upon an oversea ship. All labour necossary for the examination of any cargo, stores, baggage, goods, or articles shall bo supplied "by or at the expense of the shipper. An examining officer may in any case in which he is of opinion that tho effective examination of any cargo, stores, baggage, goods, or _ artielos brought upon any wharf or intended for shipment imon an oversea ship is for any reason impracticable, rotuse to examine the same or to pass tho samo for shipment until tho ospirv nf such period as ho deems necessary for the purpose of ascertaining thnt tho shipment thoroof will not be a source tf danger to tho ship or its cargo, and 11. tlrn'meantimn may, if bo thinks fit, take and retain possession of such car<*o. stores, baggage, goods, ■or

articles. ■\n examining ""leer may require nnv person who h or h"s bw" in any manner concerned in lading, takme,, or piscine on board an oversea ship, rr upon a wharf for shipment upon :>n oversea ship, or in packing or otherwise prcpn.riii2 for shipment upon r.n oversea shi.j, any mrso, stores, baggage, goods, or articles whatsoever to answer any miesHnns as to the nature, contents, ownership, origin, or preparation for shipment of such cargo, stores. baggage, goods, or firholes. or nnv other question in relation thereto whirl', tho officer-thinks.ma-terial in the execution of his otneo under those regulations; and any person who fails to answer to the hest of his knowledge an* question so submitted to him. or wh" nnswors nny such question falsely, shall he guilty of an offence, against these regulations, and slinll bo liable accordingly. An examining officer, or any constable with the authority of an examining officer, may enter upon any warehouse, store, or other building or placo whatever in which ho has reason to beliove that any cargo, stores, baggage, goods, or articles intended for shipment upon an overseas ship may bo situated, and may examine the same and every part thereof, and all such, cargo, stores, ba"gage, goods, or articles found therein- and any person who obstructs any such entry or examination shall bo miilty of an offence against these regulations, and shall be liable accordingly. No person shall take any photograph or make any sketch or other representation of an oversea ship at any port or place in New Zealand, or publish, exhibit, ,or have in his possession any photograph, sketch, or representation taken or made in breach of this regulation, or any reproduction or copy ot any such photograph, sketch, or representation. „ A constable, military officer, or officer of Customs may eoizo aud retain possession of any photograph, sketch, or representation (wherever found) made in breach of these regulations, or any reproduction or copy thereof (wherever found), or any camera, photographic apparatus, or. photographic material found in the possession of any person while engaged in- committing or preparing to commit any offence agamst these regulations. It shall not be lawful for anv boat, launch, or other craft or vessel whatsoever, at arty time after sunset and before sunrise,'to approach a seagoing ship at any distance less than 50 yards therefrom in any port unless tho approaching boat, launch craft, or vessel carries and exhibits a bright light visible from the deck of the ship ap; preached by it or (whether-such ligh, is carried or not) in disregard of _an>challenge, warning, or order receraed from any person on board the ship approached. ~ Every person who causes or permits any boat, launch, craft, or vessel to approach a seagoing ship in breach ot tho foregoing provisions sliall be cmity of an offeuce against those regulations, and shall he liable accordingly. Anv boat, launch, craft, or vessel approaching a seagoing ship in breach of the foregoing provisions may be fired upon by any guard or watch upon the ship '.ipproacliod, or by or with the authority of the master or any officer of that snip or any naval or military authority. ~ At all times when an oversea ship is engaged in receiving or discharging careo, stores, or baggage at any port the owner and the master of that ship shall station and maintain, thereon an efficient guard or watch charged with the duty of superintending tho receipt, stowage, and discharge ot such cargo, stores? or baggage and of using due care for the protection of tho ship and cargo from all attempts against the safety thereof. A naval authority under the \Var Regulations may from time to time cive instructions to the owner or "master as to tho nature of the guard or watch to' bo so maintained and as to tho duties with which the guai'd or watch is to be charged, and it shall, he tho duty of the owner and master, to ohey all'such instructions. Every owner or master who makes default in the performance of any duty imposed upon him by this regulation and evory person stationed as a guard or watrjj on an oversea ship in pursuance of this regulation who makes default in the performance of any duty with which he is charged in that behalf shall he guilty of an offence against these regulations, and shall.bo name accordingly. "Owner" includes charterer and also the representative in New Zealand of an owner or charterer out of Now Zealand.