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

VESSELS TO PREVENT COLLISION.

SEA-GOING

By the Commissioners for executing the office of
Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom

of Great Britain and Ireland, &c.

By virtue of the power and authority vested in us, we hereby revoke, as from and after the thirtieth day of September, 1858, the regulations made 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: And we hereby make the following regulations, and require and direct that the same be strictly observed and carried into effect on and after the first 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 Head. 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 miles, and shall show an uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 20 points of the compass, and it shall be so fixed as to throw 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 a head 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 from being seen across the bow.

5. Steam Vessels under Sail only, are not to carry their mast-head 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 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 Starboard 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 a clear 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 the compass, from

right a-head 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.

PILOT VESSELS.

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 one mile.

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

Art. 4.-Steam Ships, when towing other ships, shall carry two bright White Mast-head Lights vertically, in addition to their Side Lights, so as to distinguish them from other Steam Ships. Each of these Mast-head Lights shall be of the same construction and character, as the Mast-head Lights which other Steam Ships are required to carry.

Art. 5.-Sailing Ships under weigh, or being towed, shall carry the same Lights as Steam Ships under weigh, with the exception of the White Mast-head Lights, which they shall

never carry.

To make the use of the Portable Lights, carried by small vessels, more certain and easy, they shall each be painted outside with the colour of the Light they respectively contain, and shall be provided with suitable screens.

Art. 9.-Open Fishing Boats, and other boats, shall not be required to carry Side Lights required for other vessels; but shall, if they do not carry such Lights, carry a Lantern having a Green slide on the one side, and a Red slide on the other side; and on the approach of or to other vessels, such Lantern shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision, so that the Green Light shall not be seen on the Port side, nor the Red Light on the Starboard side.

Fishing Vessels and open Boats when at anchor, or attached to their nets and stationary, shall exhibit a Bright White Light.

Fishing Vessels and open Boats shall, however, not be prevented using a Flare-up in addition, if considered expedient.

FOG SIGNALS.

Art. 10. Steam Ships, as before, use a Steam Whistle, &c. (page 68); Sailing Ships, under weigh, shall use a Fog Horn; Steam Ships and Sailing Ships, when not under weigh, shall use a Bell.

ADDITIONAL STEERING AND SAILING RULES.

Art. 11.-Two Sailing Ships are meeting end on, or nearly end on, so as to involve Risk of Collision; the helms of both shall be put to Port, so that each may pass on the Port side of the other.

Art. 12.-When two Sailing Ships are crossing so as to involve Risk of Collision, then, if they have the wind on different sides, the ship with the wind on the Port side shall keep out of the way of the ship with the wind on the Starboard side,