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Part VI.-SEAWORTHINESS, SUPPLIES, LOG BOOK

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If any person knowingly sends or attempts to send or is party to the sending or attempting to send an American ship to sea in the foreign or coastwise trade in such an unseaworthy state that the life of any person is likely to be thereby endangered, he shall in respect of each offense be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars or by imprisonment not to exceed five years, or both, at the discretion of the court, unless he proves that either he used all reasonable means to insure her being sent to sea in a seaworthy state or that her going to sea in an unseaworthy state was, under the circumstances, reasonable and justifiable, and for the purposes of giving that proof he may give evidence in the same manner as any other witness. [This section shall not apply to fishing or whaling vessels or yachts-Dec. 21, 1898, sec. 26.] (Dec. 21, 1898, sec. 11.)

Inspection of Hulls and Equipment.

The local inspectors shall, once in every year, at least, carefully inspect the hull of each steam vessel within their respective districts, and shall satisfy themselves that every such vessel so submitted to their inspection is of a structure suitable for the service in which she is to be employed, has suitable accommodations for passengers and the crew, and is in a condition to warrant the belief that she may be used in navigation as a steamer, with safety to life, and that all the requirements of law in regard to fires, boats, pumps, hose, life preservers, floats, anchors, cables, and other things are faithfully complied with; and if they deem it expedient they may direct the vessel to be put in motion, and may adopt any other suitable means to test her sufficiency and that of her equipment. The local inspectors shall, once in every year, at least, carefully inspect the hull of each sail vessel of over seven hundred tons carrying passengers for hire and all other vessels and barges of over one hundred tons burden carrying passengers for hire within their respective districts, and shall satisfy themselves that every such vessel so submitted to their inspection is of a structure suitable for the service in which she is to be employed, has suitable accommodations for the crew, and is in condition to warrant the belief that she may be used in navigation with safety to life: Provided, That vessels while laid up and dismantled and out

of commission may, by regulations established by the Board of Supervising Inspectors, with the approval of the Secretary of Commerce, be exempted from any or all inspection under sections forty-four hundred and seventeen, forty-four hundred and eighteen, forty-four hundred and twenty-six, forty-four hundred and twentyseven. Whenever any inspector or assistant inspector shall, in the performance of his duty, find on board any vessel subject to the provisions of this Title [R. S. 4399-4500] as part of the required equipment thereof, any equipment, machinery, apparatus, or appliances not conforming to the requirements of law, he shall require the same to be placed in proper condition by the owner or master of the said vessel, if possible; and if said inspector or assistant inspector shall find on board any such vessel any life preservers or fire hose so defective as to be incapable of repair, he shall require that the same be destroyed in his presence by such owner or master. And in any of the foregoing cases local inspectors by whom or under whose supervision said vessel is then being inspected shall have power to enforce the foregoing requirements by revoking the certificate of the said vessel, and by refusing to issue a new certificate to the said vessel until the said requirements shall have been fully complied with or until such action of the local inspectors shall have been reversed, modified, or set aside by the supervising inspector of the district on proper appeal by the owner or master of said vessel, which appeal shall be made to the said supervising inspector within ten days after the final action as aforesaid by the local inspectors; and upon such appeal, duly made, the supervising inspector shall have power to affirm, modify, or set aside such action by the local inspectors. (R. S. 4417; Dec. 21, 1898, sec. 4; Mar. 3, 1905. See Aug. 18, 1914, p. 94.) Seagoing Barges.

The local inspectors of steamboats shall at least once in every year inspect the hull and equipment of every seagoing barge of one hundred gross tons or over, and shall satisfy themselves that such barge is of a structure suitable for the service in which she is to be employed, has suitable accommodations for the crew, and is in a condition to warrant the belief that she may be used in navigation with safety to life. They shall then issue a certificate of inspection in the manner and for the purposes prescribed in sections forty-four hundred and twenty-one and forty-four hundred and twenty-three of the Revised Statutes. (Sec. 10.)

Every such barge shall be equipped with the following appliances of kinds approved by the Board of Supervising Inspectors: At least one lifeboat, at least one anchor with suitable chain or cable, and at least one life preserver for each person on board. (May 28, 1908, sec. 11.)

A register, enrollment, or license shall not be issued or renewed by any collector or other officer of customs to any such barge unless at the time of issue or renewal such barge has in force the certificate of inspection prescribed by section ten and on board the equipment prescribed by section eleven. (May 28, 1908, sec. 12; Mar. 4, 1915, sec. 6. See p. 90.)

If any such barge shall be navigated without such certificate of inspection, or without any part of the equipment prescribed by sec

tion eleven, the owner shall be liable to a penalty of five hundred dollars for each offense. (May 28, 1908, sec. 13.)

The Commissioner of Lighthouses, the Supervising Inspector General of the Steamboat Inspection Service, and the Commissioner of Navigation shall convene as a board at such times as the Secretary of Commerce shall prescribe to prepare regulations limiting the length of hawsers between towing vessels and seagoing barges in tow and the length of such tows within any of the inland waters of the United States designated and defined from time to time pursuant to section two of the Act approved February nineteen, eighteen hundred and ninety-five, and such regulations when approved by the Secretary of Commerce shall have the force of law. (May 28, 1908, sec 14; June 17, 1910, sec. 6.)

The master of the towing vessel shall be liable to the suspension or revocation of his license for any willful violation of regulations issued pursuant to section fourteen in the manner now prescribed for incompetency, misconduct, or unskillfulness. (May 28, 1908, sec. 15.)

Inspection of Seaworthiness at Domestic Ports.

If the first and second officers under the master or a majority of the crew of any vessel bound on any voyage shall, before the vessel shall have left the harbor, discover that the vessel is too leaky or is otherwise unfit in her crew, body, tackle, apparel, furniture, provisions, or stores to proceed on the intended voyage, and shall require such unfitness to be inquired into, the master shall, upon the request of the first and second officers under the master or such majority of the crew, forthwith apply to the judge of the district court of that judicial district, if he shall there reside, or if not, to some justice of the peace of the city, town, or place for the appointment of surveyors, as in section forty-five hundred and fifty-seven provided, taking with him two or more of the crew who shall have made such request; and any master refusing or neglecting to comply with these provisions shall be liable to a penalty of five hundred dollars. [This section shall not apply to fishing or whaling vessels or yachts-Dec. 21, 1898, sec. 26.] (R. S. 4556; Dec. 21, 1898, sec. 7.)

The judge or justice in a domestic port shall, upon such application of the master or commander, issue his precept, directed to three persons in the neighborhood, the most experienced and skillful in maritime affairs that can be procured; and whenever such complaint is about the provisions one of such surveyors shall be a physician or a surgeon of the Public Health Service, if such service is established at the place where the complaint is made. It shall be the duty of such surveyors to repair on board such vessel and to examine the same in respect to the defects and insufficiencies complained of and make reports to the judge or justice, as the case may be, in writing, under their hands or the hands of two of them, whether in any or in what respect the vessel is unfit to proceed on the intended voyage, and what addition of men, provisions, or stores, or what repairs or alterations in the body, tackle, or apparel will be necessary; and upon such report the judge or justice shall adjudge and shall indorse on his report his judgment whether the vessel is fit to proceed on the intended voyage, and, if not, whether such repairs can be made or deficiencies supplied where the vessel then lies, or whether it is

necessary for her to proceed to the nearest or most convenient place where such supplies can be made or deficiencies supplied; and the master and the crew shall in all things conform to the judgment. The master or commander shall, in the first instance, pay all the costs of such review, report, or judgment, to be taxed and allowed on a fair copy thereof, certified by the judge or justice. But if the complaint of the crew shall appear upon the report and judgment to have been without foundation, the master or commander, or the owner or consignee of such vessel, shall deduct the amount thereof, and of reasonable damages for the detention, to be ascertained by the judge or justice, out of the wages of the complaining seamen. [This section shall not apply to fishing or whaling vessels or yachts-Dec. 21, 1898, sec. 26.] (R. S. 4557; Dec. 21, 1898, sec. 8; July 1, 1902.)

If, after judgment that such vessel is fit to proceed on her intended voyage, or after procuring such men, provisions, stores, repairs, or alterations as may be directed, the seamen, or either of them, shall refuse to proceed on the voyage, he shall forfeit any wages that may be due him. [This section shall not apply to fishing or whaling vessels or yachts-Dec. 21, 1898, sec. 26.] (R. S. 4558; Dec. 21, 1898, sec. 9.)

Inspection of Seaworthiness at Foreign Ports.

Upon a complaint in writing, signed by the first and second officers or a majority of the crew of any vessel, while in a foreign port, that such vessel is in an unsuitable condition to go to sea because she is leaky or insufficiently supplied with sails, rigging, anchors, or any other equipment, or that the crew is insufficient to man her, or that her provisions, stores, and supplies are not or have not been during the voyage sufficient or wholesome, thereupon, in any of these or like cases the consul shall cause to be appointed three persons of like qualifications with those described in section forty-five hundred and fifty-seven, who shall proceed to examine into the cause of complaint and who shall proceed and be governed in all their proceedings as provided by said section. [This section shall not apply to fishing or whaling vessels or yachts-Dec. 21, 1898, sec. 26.] (R. S. 4559; Mar. 4, 1915, sec. 5.)

The inspectors appointed by any consul or commercial agent, in pursuance of the preceding section, shall have full power to examine the vessel and whatever is aboard of her, so far as is pertinent to their inquiry, and also to hear and receive any other proofs which the ends of justice may require; and if, upon a view of the whole proceedings, the consul is satisfied therewith, he may approve the whole or any part of the report, and shall certify such approval; or if he dissents, he shall certify his reasons for dissenting. (R. S. 4560.) The inspectors in their report shall also state whether in their opinion the vessel was sent to sea unsuitably provided in any important or essential particular, by neglect or design, or through mistake or accident; and in case it was by neglect or design, and the consular officer approves of such finding, he shall discharge such of the crew as request it, and shall require the payment by the master of one month's wages for each seaman over and above the wages then due, or sufficient money for the return of such of the crew as desire to be discharged to the nearest and most convenient port of the United States, or by furnishing the seamen who so desire to be discharged

with employment on a ship agreed to by them. But if in the opinion of the inspectors the defects or deficiencies found to exist have been the result of mistake or accident, and could not, in the exercise of ordinary care, have been known and provided against before the sailing of the vessel, and the master shall in a reasonable time remove or remedy the causes of complaint, then the crew shall remain and discharge their duty. [This section shall not apply to fishing or whaling vessels or yachts-Dec. 21, 1898, sec. 26.] (R. S. 4561; June 26, 1884, sec. 4; Dec. 21, 1898, sec. 11.)

The master shall pay all such reasonable charges for inspection under such complaint as shall be officially certified to him under the hand of the consul; but in case the inspectors report that the complaint is without any good and sufficient cause the master may retain from the wages of the complainants, in proportion to the pay of each, the amount of such charges, with such reasonable damages for detention on that account as the consul directing the inquiry may officially certify. (R. S. 4562.)

Every master who refuses to pay such wages and charges shall be liable to each person injured thereby, in damages, to be recovered in any court of the United States in the district where such delinquent may reside or be found, and in addition thereto be punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars for each offense. (R. S. 4563.) Provisions and Water.

Should any master or owner of any merchant vessel of the United States neglect to provide a sufficient quantity of stores to last for a voyage of ordinary duration to the port of destination, and in consequence of such neglect the crew are compelled to accept a reduced scale, such master or owner shall be liable to a penalty as provided in section forty-five hundred and sixty-eight of the Revised Statutes. (R. S. 4564; Dec. 21, 1898, sec. 12.)

Any three or more of the crew of any merchant vessel of the United States bound from a port in the United States to any foreign port, or being of the burden of seventy-five tons or upward, and bound from a port on the Atlantic to a port on the Pacific, or vice versa, may complain to any officer in command of any of the vessels of the United States Navy, or consular officer of the United States, or shipping commissioner or chief officer of the customs, that the provisions or water for the use of the crew are, at any time, of bad quality, unfit for use, or deficient in quantity. Such officer shall thereupon examine the provisions or water, or cause them to be examined; and if, on examination, such provisions or water are found to be of bad quality and unfit for use, or to be deficient in quantity, the person making such examination shall certify the same in writing to the master of the ship. If such master does not thereupon provide other proper provisions or water, where the same can be had, in lieu of any so certified to be of a bad quality and unfit for use, or does not procure the requisite quantity of any so certified to be insufficient in quantity, or uses any provisions or water which have been so certified as aforesaid to be of bad quality and unfit for use, he shall, in every such case, be liable to a penalty of not more than one hundred dollars; and upon every such examination the officers making or directing the same shall enter a statement of the result of the examination in the log book, and shall send a report

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