HC Deb 14 February 1893 vol 8 cc1358-9
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, with reference to the instructions issued by the Board of Trade to their surveyors which require that ships' side lights shall be so fitted as to show the light from two points abaft the beam to four degrees across the bow, or over nearly 10½ points of the compass, and to cause the ship to be stopped in case the lights are not so fitted, whether his attention has been drawn to the Order in Council laving down the exist- ing Regulations for preventing collisions at sea, which require side lights to be so fitted as to show the light over 10 points only of the compass; and will he explain the apparent discrepancy between the Board of Trade instructions and the Order in Council?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. A. J. MUNDELLA,) Sheffield, Brightside

The existing Regulations do not say that the side lights shall show over 10 points of the compass only, but that they shall show an uniform and unbroken light over an are of the horizon of 10 points of the compass, and to attain this it is absolutely necessary that they shall show with diminished light over the slight excess of are to which the hon. Member refers. There is no discrepancy between the Board of Trade instructions and the Order in Council.