Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 49 Part 1.djvu/1429

 1384 74Tx C ONGRESS. SESS. II. CH. 463. MAY 27, 1936 . Effective date of sec- (k) This section shall take effect ninety days from its enactment. ti Technical staff estab- SEC. 5. (a) That hereafter there shall be in the Bureau of Marine lis Personne l, qualif ica- Inspection and Navigation a technical staff, consisting of the Direc- tions. for and technical members who shall be selected for their knowledge, skill, and practical experience in designing and supervising the con- struction and operation of vessels propelled by machinery, and they shall be competent judges of the character, strength, stability, and Appointment ° U.S.C.,p.St. safety qualities of such vessels and their equipment. Such technical members shall be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, without Supe rvision of co n- reference to the civil-service laws and regulations. The Director tract plans, etc ., for pa ssenger v essels. of the said Bureau with the advice and a ssistance of the technical staff so appointed shall pass upon all contract plans and specifications for passenger vessels of the United States of one hundred gross tons and over, propelled by machinery, as provided for by subsection (b) of this section, including the installation of tested and effective sprinkler systems, and upon arrangement plans for all material alter- ations to existing vessel s. Such approval shall be given promptly and with due regard to the orderly progress of the work but only when the Director is satisfied, after a full and complete examination of the pl ans and specifications, that the vessel, when built or altered, as the case may be, can be navigated with safety to those on board. Di sappr oval of plans. In case the said Director shall disapprove such plans and specifica- tio ns, the person o r persons submitt ing the same shal l be apprised the reof the reasons for such disappr oval and advised of the amend- Sa fetre of vess els ; ments necessary to secure such approval. The Director shall, at as regulations for builders. early a date as practicable, and from time to time thereafter as he shall deem advisable, formulate and publish regulations and instruc- tions for the guidance of builders of prospective vessels showing the safety characteristics of vessels which will meet the approval of the Pr D0140 Director : Provided however, That such regulations and instruc- A pproca l bre S ecre- f tart'. tions shall in all cases be subject to the approval of the Secretary of Commerce. Certificates of inspec- (b) That no passenger vessel of the United States of one hundred tion. Requirements for gross tons and over, propelled by machinery, the construction or granting. material alteration of which shall be begun subsequent to the passage of this Act, shall be granted a certificate of inspection by a board of local inspec tors of the Burea u unless the said general contract plans and specifications therefor shall have been submitted at least in triplicate t o and approved by the aforesaid Di rector before the construction of such vessel or alteration thereof shall have been com- menced ; nor shall any such vessel, the said plans or specifications for which have been materially a ltered subsequent to such approval be granted a certificate, as aforesaid, unless such altered plans and speci ficati ons s hall have been s ubmit ted a t leas t in tripl icate to an d approved by the said Director, prior to such change in construction having been made. No such certificate shall be granted to any such vessel which has not been constructed and equipped in accordance Proviso. with said plans and specifications approved as aforesaid
 * Provided

Acceptance of ap- proved plans, etc., of That approved plans and certificates of the American Bureau of American Bureau of Shipping classed ves- Shipping classed vessels may be accepted by the Director as evidence sels ° of the structural efficiency of the hull and the reliability of the machinery of such vessels, except as far as existing law places definite responsibility on the Bureau of Marine Inspection and continued. naeon s of Bu reau Navigation. The American Bureau of Shipping shall con tinue to function in connection with the Government, its bureaus, depart- ments, boards, and commissions, as heretofore provided under the Vol. 41, p. 998. Me rcha nt Mari ne Act, Jun e 5, 1920 (eh . 250, sec . 25;41 Stat. 998; Vol. 45, p. 1492.7 46 U.S.C. Annotated sec . 881) and as provided in the Act of U.S .C.,p.1987. March 2, 1929, entitled "An Act to establish load lines for American