VISCOUNT DUNGANNONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether it was intended by Her Majesty's Government to introduce any Bill into Parliament compelling vessels sailing along the coast or in the Channel during the night to exhibit lights; and whether any new and recently-recommended plan for safe lights for sailing vessels was at present under the consideration of the Board of Admiralty? Under the present regulations sailing vessels were bound to exhibit lights only when at anchor; the consequence was that the mail packets, which were forced to cross the Channel at all hours of the night, were exposed to the greatest danger, and several accidents had occurred.
§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYadmitted the importance of the subject. By the Merchant Shipping Act the Board of Admiralty had power to make regulations for all classes of vessels. The present regulations had been in force since 1852; but in the early part of this year a memorial had been presented from Shields complaining of them in several respects; the memorial had been referred to a Committee composed of Admiral Chads and other officers, who had lately made their report, and the whole question was now under the consideration of the Board of Admiralty.
LORD CAMPBELLsaid, he was glad to hear that the subject was being considered; because, from the number of collision cases which came before him, he was enabled to bear testimony to the necessity for some regulations.
VISCOUNT DUNGANNONwished to know whether he was to understand that it was intended to compel sailing vessels to exhibit a light.
§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYreplied that that was one of the points which were under the consideration of the Admiralty.
§ THE EARL OF HARDWICKEsaid, he doubted if sailing vessels should be compelled at all times during night to carry 851 lights, since steamers always did do so, which was one of the distinctions between them and sailing vessels at sea; and it was extremely important to be able to distinguish them, as the course they took was so different—steamers taking a direct course, whereas the sailing vessels were compelled to regulate their course according to the winds and currents.
§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYsaid, this was part of the subject under consideration.
§ House adjourned till To-morrow.