countries to which they belong, they shall be subject to no other inspection than necessary to satisfy the local inspectors that the condition of the vessel, her boilers, and life-saving equipments are as stated in the current certificate of inspection; but no such certificate of inspection shall be accepted as evidence of lawful inspection except when presented by steam vessels of other countries which have by their laws accorded to the steam vessels of the United States visiting such countries the same privilege accorded herein to the steam vessels of such countries visiting the United States; it being further provided that there shall be collected and paid into the Treasury of the United States the same fees for the inspection of foreign passenger steamers carrying passengers from the United States that any foreign nation shall charge the merchant vessels of the United States trading to the ports of such Feb. 14, 1903. nationality; it being further provided that the Secretary of Commerce and Labor shall have the power to waive at any time the collection of such fees upon due notice of the proper authorities of any country concerned that the collection of fees for the inspection of American steam merchant vessels has been discontinued. No license, register, or enrollment shall be granted, nor any other papers be issued by any collector or other chief officer of the customs to any vessel propelled in whole or in part by steam, until he shall have satisfactory evidence that all the provisions of this Title [R. S., 4399-4500] have been fully complied with. Sec. 10. R. S., 4498. Dec. 22, 1890. The hull and boilers of every ferry-boat, canal-boat, R. S., 4426. yacht, or other small craft of like character, propelled by steam, shall be inspected under the provisions of this Title [R. S., 4399–4500]. Such other provisions of law for the better security of life, as may be applicable to such vessels, shall, by the regulations of the board of supervising inspectors, also be required to be complied with, before a certificate of inspection shall be granted; and no such vessels shall be navigated without a licensed engineer and a licensed pilot. In open steam-launches of ten tons burden and under, one person, if duly qualified, may serve in the double capacity of pilot and engineer. Irondequoit Bay, New York, shall, for the purpose of applying the provisions of title fifty-two of the Revised Statutes [R. S., 4399-4500], relating to steam-vessels navigating thereon, be declared a navigable water of the United States; and steam-vessels navigated thereon, and carrying passengers, shall be inspected under the provisions of section fortyfour hundred and twenty-six of the title [R. S., 43994500] referred to, and subject to the penalties provided therein for a failure to comply therewith. June 25, 1890. All vessels of above fifteen tons burden, carrying freight Jan. 18, 1897. or passengers for hire, propelled by gas, fluid, naphtha, or electric motors, shall be, and are hereby, made subject to all the provisions of section forty-four hundred and twentysix of the Revised Statutes of the United States, relating to June 7, 1897. the inspection of hulls and boilers and requiring engineers and pilots; and all vessels so propelled, without regard to tonnage [or use,] shall be subject to the provisions [of section forty-four hundred and twelve of the Revised Statutes of the United States, relating to the regulation of steam vesMarch 3, 1897. sels in passing each other; and to so much of sections fortytwo hundred and thirty-three of the Revised Statutes, relating to lights, fog signals, steering, and sailing rules, as the Board of Supervising Inspectors shall, by their regulations, deem applicable and practicable for their safe navigation.] Sec. 16. R. S., 4427. R. S.. 4452. R. S., 4453. The hull and boiler of every tug-boat, towing-boat, and freight-boat shall be inspected, under the provisions of this Title [R. S., 4399-4500]; and the inspectors shall see that the boilers, machinery, and appurtenances of such vessel are not dangerous in form or workmanship, and that the safety-valves, gauge-cocks, low-water alarm-indicators, steam-gauges, and fusible plugs are all attached in conformity to law; and the officers navigating such vessels shall be licensed in conformity with the provisions of this Title, and shall be subject to the same provisions of law as officers navigating passenger-steamers. Whenever any board of local inspectors refuses to grant a license to any person applying for the same, or suspends or revokes the license of any master, mate, engineer, or pilot, any person deeming himself wronged by such refusal, suspension, or revocation, may, within thirty days thereof, on application to the supervising inspector of the district, have his case examined anew by such supervising inspector; and the local board shall furnish to the supervising inspector, in writing, the reasons for its doings in the premises; and such supervising inspector shall examine the case anew, and he shall have the same powers to summon witnesses and compel their attendance, and to administer oaths, that are conferred on local inspectors; and such witnesses and the marshal shall be paid in the same manner as provided for by the preceding section; and such supervising inspector may revoke, change, or modify the decision of such local board; and like proceedings may be had by any master or owner of any steam-vessel in relation to the inspection of such vessel, or her boilers or machinery, by any such local board; and in case of repairs, and in any investigation or inspection, where there shall be a disagreement between the local inspectors, the supervising inspector, when so requested, shall investigate and decide the case. In addition to the annual inspection, the local inspectors shall examine, at proper times, steamers arriving and departing to and from their respective ports, so often as to enable them to detect any neglect to comply with the requirements of law, and also any defects or imperfections becoming apparent after the inspection aforesaid, and tending to render the navigation of the vessels unsafe; and if they shall discover any omission to comply with the law, or that repairs have become necessary to make the vessel safe, the inspectors shall at once notify the master, in writing, stating in the notice what is required; and if the master deems the requirements unreasonable or unnecessary, he may apply for a re-examination of the case to the supervising inspector, as provided in the preceding section. All inspections and orders for repairs shall be promptly made by the inspectors, and, when it can be safely done in their judgment, they shall permit repairs to be made where those interested can most conveniently do them. If any master or owner of any steamer shall refuse or neglect to comply with the requirements of the local inspectors, made in pursuance of the preceding section, and shall, contrary thereto and while the same remains unreversed by the supervising inspector, employ the vessel by navigating her, the master and owner shall be liable to a penalty of five hundred dollars for each offense, one-half for the use of the informer; for which sum the vessel itself shall be liable, and may be seized and proceeded against by libel in any district court having jurisdiction; and the master and owner, and the vessel itself, shall, in addition thereto, be liable for any damage to passengers and their baggage which shall occur from any defects as stated in the notice prescribed in the preceding section. R. S., 4454. No kind of instrument, machine, or equipment, for the R.S., 4491. better security of life, provided for by this Title [R. S., 4399-4500] shall be used on any steam-vessel which shall not first be approved by the board of supervising inspect- Feb. 14, 1903. ors, and also by the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. 126. Inspection of registered foreign-built vessels. The Secretary of Commerce and Labor be, and he is hereby, authorized to direct the inspection of any foreign vessel, admitted to American registry, its steam boilers, steam pipes, and appurtenances, and to direct the issue of the usual certificate of inspection, whether said boilers, steam pipes, and appurtenances are or are not constructed pursuant to the laws of the United States, or whether they are or are not constructed of iron stamped pursuant to said laws. The tests in the inspection of such boilers, steam pipes, and appurtenances shall be the same in all respects as to strength and safety as are required in the inspection of boilers constructed in the United States for marine purposes. 127. Manning of steam passenger vessels. Sec. 10. Mar. 3, 1897. Feb. 14, 1903. No steamer carrying passengers shall depart from any R. S., 4463. port unless she shall have in her service a full complement of licensed officers and full crew, sufficient at all times to manage the vessel, including the proper number of watchmen. But if any such vessel, on her voyage, is deprived of the services of any licensed officer, without the consent, fault, or collusion of the master, owner, or any person interested in the vessel, the deficiency may be temporarily supplied, until others licensed can be obtained. R. S., 4418. June 19, 1886. 128. Inspection of hulls and equipment. [See Seaworthiness, paragraph 113.] 129. Inspection of boilers. The local inspectors shall also inspect the boilers of all steam-vessels before the same shall be used, and once at least in every year thereafter. They shall subject all boilers to the hydrostatic pressure; and shall satisfy themselves by thorough examination that the boilers are well made, of good and suitable material; that the openings for the passage of water and steam, respectively, and all pipes and tubes exposed to heat, are of proper dimensions and free from obstruction; that the spaces between and around the flues are sufficient; that the flues are circular in form; that the fire-line of the furnace is at least two inches below the prescribed minimum water-line of the boilers; that the arrangement for delivering the feed-water is such that the boilers cannot be injured thereby; and that such boilers and machinery, and the appurtenances, may be safely employed in the service proposed in the written application, without peril to life. They shall also satisfy themselves that the safety-valves are of suitable dimensions, sufficient in number, and well arranged; and that the weights of the safety-valves are properly adjusted, so as to allow no greater pressure in the boilers than the amount prescribed by the inspection certificate; that there is a sufficient number of gauge-cocks properly inserted, and suitable steam gauges to indicate the pressure of steam; and that there are reliable low-water gauges; and that the fusible metals are properly inserted so as to fuse by the heat of the furnace, whenever the water in the boilers falls below its prescribed limits; and that adequate and certain provision is made for an ample supply of water to feed the boilers at all times, whether such vessel is in motion or not, so that in high-pressure boilers the water shall not be less than four inches above the top of the flues; and that means for blowing out are provided, so as to thoroughly remove the mud and sediment from all parts of the boilers, when they are under pressure of steam. In subjecting to the hydrostatic test boilers usually designated and known as high-pressure boilers, the inspectors shall assume one hundred and ten pounds to the square inch, as the maximum pressure allowable as a workingpower for a new boiler of forty-two inches in diameter, made in the best manner, of inspected iron plates, onefourth of an inch thick, and of a quality required by law, and shall rate the working-power of all high-pressure boilers, whether old or new, according to their strength, compared with this standard; and in all cases the test applied shall exceed the working-power allowed, in the ratio of one hundred and sixty-five to one hundred and ten. In subjecting to the hydrostatic tests boilers usually designated and known as low-pressure boilers, the inspectors shall allow as a working-power for each new boiler a pres sure of only three-fourths the number of pounds to the square inch to which it has been subjected by the hydrostatic test, and for which it has been found to be sufficient. Should the inspectors be of the opinion that any boiler, by reason of its construction or material, will not safely allow so high a working pressure as is above described, they may, for reasons to be stated specially in their certificate, fix the working pressure of such boiler at less than threefourths of the test-pressure. All boilers used on steamvessels and constructed of iron or steel plates, inspected under the provisions of section forty-four hundred and thirty, shall be subjected to a hydrostatic test, in the ratio of one hundred and fifty pounds to the square inch to one hundred pounds to the square inch of the working steampower allowed. No boiler or pipe, nor any of the connections therewith, shall be approved, which is made, in whole or in part, of bad material, or is unsafe in its form, or dangerous from defective workmanship, age, use, or other cause. In applying the directions of the preceding section [4418] R. S., 4420. to steamboats used exclusively for towing and carrying freight on the Mississippi River and its tributaries, the local inspectors shall substitute, for such boats, one hundred and fifty pounds of steam pressure in place of one hundred and ten pounds for the standard pressure upon standard boilers of forty-two inches diameter, and of plates of one-quarter of an inch in thickness; and such boats may, on the written permit of the supervising inspector of the district in which such boats shall carry on their business, be permitted to carry steam above the standard pressure of one hundred and ten pounds, but not exceeding the standard pressure of one hundred and fifty pounds, to the square inch. One of the safety-valves may, if in the opinion of the local R. S., 4419. inspectors it is necessary to do so, and the steam-registers shall, be taken wholly from the control of all persons engaged in navigating such vessels and secured by the inspectors. Every boiler manufactured to be used on steam-vessels, R. S., 4428. and made of iron or steel plates shall be constructed of plates that have been stamped in accordance with the provisions of this Title [R. S., 4399-4500]. Every person who constructs a boiler, or steam-pipe connecting the boilers, to be used on steam-vessels, of iron or steel plates which have not been duly stamped and inspected according to the provisions of this Title [R. S., 4399-4500], or who knowingly uses any defective, bad, or faulty iron or steel in the construction of such boilers; or who drifts any rivet-hole to make it come fair; or who delivers any such boiler for use, knowing it to be imperfect in its flues, flanging, riveting, bracing, or in any other of its parts, shall be fined one thousand dollars, one-half for 14317-03-8 R. S., 4429. |