MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, by the existing Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, the compulsory sound signals to be made by vessels (as prescribed by Article 12) are limited to three in number; whether, by the revised Regulations proposed to be adopted, the compulsory sound signals (as prescribed by Articles 15 and 28) are increased from three to eleven in number; arid whether the probability of confusion arising in crowded channels or in thick weather from this great increase of sound signals has been duly considered?
§ MR. BRYCEThe compulsory sound signals for fog have been increased from three to eight in number. The optional sound signals for vessels in sight of one another have not been increased in number, but, having been fairly tried for some years as optional, will in future become compulsory, signals. The whole of the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers have been duly considered.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESMay I ask to have a reply to my question: is it not a fact that the compulsory sound signals have been increased to eleven?
§ MR. BRYCEI have nothing more to say than I have told the hon. Member. There are two cases that are entirely different; that of the signals used in fog is entirely different from the other.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESI did not limit my question to the case of fogs. I am asking about compulsory sound signals. Will he answer my question?
MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the revised regulations for preventing collisions at sea, as set forth in the Board of Trade Circular to Shipowners of 6th March 1894, and as 301 proposed to be made compulsory on British vessels, are identical in all respects with those agreed to be adopted I by other countries as the outcome of the Washington Conference; if not, which countries propose to adopt different regulations, and in what respects the differences exist in each case; and, whether the revised regulations, as proposed to be made compulsory on British shipping, represent, so far as is believed at present, the final and complete form of those regulations, or whether they are in their present shape a temporary and incomplete form which it is intended to supplement or alter by further proposals affecting fishermen's lights, steam pilots' lights, or any other, and, if so, which, matters.
§ MR. BRYCEThe revised regulations for preventing collisions at sea represent the international agreement arrived at after careful consideration and discussion among the various maritime Powers of the proposals of the Washington Conference. The agreement is complete, and the regulations as revised are accepted by all the Powers. The only exception is that the German Government, desiring an addition to Rule 26, which relates to fishing vessels, still raise a difficulty regarding its application. The old regulations as to the lights of fishing vessels remain unaltered, but various suggestions have been made for their amendment, and it has been agreed that these should stand over for subsequent consideration. Steam pilots' lights were not dealt with by the Washington Conference. The revised regulations are complete as far as they go.
§ MR. BRYCEYes, Sir, they are complete as far as they go, and to the extent they have been dealt with, but particular subjects are excluded from this agreement.