Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 62 Part 1.djvu/283

 80ra CONG., 2D SESS.-CH. 328 -MAY 21, 1948 253 in the forward part of the vessel, where it can best be seen, one such light, and at or near the stern of the vessel, and at such a height that it shall not be less than fifteen feet lower than the forward light, another such light. 'RULE NUMBERED 14. The exhibition of any light on board of a vessel of war;oast vessel of war of the United States or a Coast Guard cutter may be rduter suspended whenever, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Navy, the commander in chief of a squadron, or the commander of a vessel acting singly, the special character of the service may require it. "RULE NUMBERED 15. All signals prescribed by this article for vessels Signals. under way shall be given- "By 'steam vessels' on the whistle or siren. "By sailing vessels and 'vessels towed' on the foghorn. "A steam vessel shall be provided with an efficient whistle or siren, sounded by steam or by some substitute for steam, so placed that the sound may not be intercepted by any obstruction; also with an efficient bell. A sailing vessel of twenty gross tons or upward shall be pro- vided with a similar bell. "In fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, or any other condition similarly restricting visibility, whether by day or night, the signals described by this article shall be used as follows, namely: "(a) A steam vessel under way and towing another vessel or vessels shall sound, at intervals of not more than one minute, three distinct blasts of the whistle, of approximately equal length. "(b) A steam vessel under way without a tow shall sound, at intervals of not more than one minute, three blasts of the whistle, the first two blasts to be approximately of equal length, the last blast to be longer. "(c) A steam vessel, with or without a tow, lying to, by which is meant holding her position near or against the bank by using her engines, or temporarily moored to the bank, when a fog signal or other sound is heard indicating the approach of another vessel, shall, if lying to on the right bank, give one tap of the bell to indicate her presence, and if lying to on the left bank, two taps of the bell, at intervals of not more than one minute, such signals to continue until the approaching steam vessel has passed. Right and left bank is understood as facing downstream or with the flow of the current. "(d) A vessel when at anchor shall, at intervals of not more than one minute, ring the bell rapidly for about five seconds. "RmE NUMBERED 16. Every steam vessel shall, in fog, mist, falling speed infog. etc. snow, heavy rainstorms, or any other condition similarly restricting visibility, whether by day or night, go at a moderate speed. A steam vessel hearing, apparently forward of her beam, the fog signal of another vessel shall at once reduce her speed to bare steerageway, and navigate with caution until the vessels shall have passed each other. "RULE tNUMBERED 17. When two sailing vessels are approaching ailng vessels ap- one another, so as to involve risk of collision, one of them shall keep pro one another. out of the way of the other, as follows, namely: "(a) A vessel which is running free shall keep out of the way of a vessel which is close-hauled. "(b) A vessel which is close-hauled on the port tack shall keep out of the way of a vessel which is close-hauled on the starboard tack. "(c) When both are running free, with the wind on different sides, the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other. "(d) When both are running free, with the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to the windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to the leeward. "(e) A vessel which has the wind aft shall keep out of the way of the other vessel. 62 STAT.]

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