Chapter 268. To amend laws for preventing collisions of vessels and to regulate equipment of certain motor boats on the navigable waters of the United States
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CHAP. 268.— An Act To amend laws for preventing collisions of vessels and to regulate equipment of certain motor boats on the navigable waters of the United States. June 9, 1910.[[S. 7359](/us/bill/61/s/7359).][[Public, No. 201](/us/pl/61/201).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Motor boats. Vessels included. That the words “motor boat” where used in this Act shall include every vessel propelled by machinery and not more than sixty-five feet in length except tug boats and tow boats propelled by steam.
The length shall be *Proviso*. Inspection. measured from end to end over the deck, excluding sheer: *Provided*, That the engine, boiler, or other operating machinery shall be subject to inspection by the local inspectors of steam vessels, and to their approval of the design thereof, on all said motor boats, which are more than forty feet in length, and which are propelled by machinery driven by steam. Sec. 2. Classification. That motor boats subject to the provisions of this Act shall be divided into classes as follows:
Class one. Less than twenty-six feet in length. Class two. Twenty-six feet or over and less than forty feet in length. Class three. Forty feet or over and not more than sixty-five feet in length. Sec. 3. Lights required. That every motor boat in all weathers from sunset to sunrise shall carry the following lights, and during such time no other lights which may be mistaken for those prescribed shall be exhibited.
(a)Class 1. Every motor boat of class one shall carry the following lights: First. A white light aft to show all around the horizon. Second. A combined lantern in the fore part of the vessel and lower than the white light aft showing green to starboard and red to port, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on their respective sides.
(b)Classes 2 and 3. Every motor boat of classes two and three shall carry the following lights: First. Fore. A bright white light in the fore part of the vessel as near the stem as practicable, so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of twenty points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light ten points on each side of the vessel, namely, from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on either side. The glass or lens shall be of not less than the following dimensions: Class two. Nineteen square inches. Class three. Thirty-one square inches. Second. Aft. A white light aft to show all around the horizon. Third. Side. On the starboard side a green light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on the starboard side. On the port side a red light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam on the port side. The glasses or lenses in the said side lights shall be of not less than the following dimensions on motor boats of— Class two. Sixteen square inches. Class three. Twenty-five square inches. On and after July first, nineteen hundred and eleven, all glasses or lenses prescribed by paragraph
(b)of section three shall be fresnel or fluted. The said lights shall be fitted with inboard screens of sufficient height and so set as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow and shall be of not less than the following dimensions on motor boats of— Class two. Eighteen inches long.463 Class three. Twenty-four inches long: *Provided*, That motor boats *Proviso*. When under sail. as defined in this Act, when propelled by sail and machinery or under sail alone, shall carry the colored lights suitably screened but not the white lights prescribed by this section. Sec. 4.
(a)Every motor boat under the provisions of this Act shall Sound signals. be provided with a whistle or other sound-producing mechanical appliance capable of producing a blast of two seconds or more in duration, and in the case of such boats so provided a blast of at least two seconds shall be deemed a prolonged blast within the meaning of the law.
(b)Every motor boat of class two or three shall carry an efficient fog horn.
(c)Every motor boat of class two or three shall be provided with an efficient bell, which shall be not less than eight inches across the mouth on board of vessels of class three. Sec. 5. That every motor boat subject to any of the provisions of Life-preservers. this Act, and also all vessels propelled by machinery other than by steam more than sixty-five feet in length, shall carry either life-preservers or life belts, or buoyant cushions, or ring buoys or other device, to be prescribed by the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, sufficient to sustain afloat every person on board and so placed as to be readily accessible. All motor boats carrying passengers for hire Boats carrying passengers for hire. shall carry one life-preserver of the sort prescribed by the regulations of the board of supervising inspectors for every passenger carried, and no such boat while so carrying passengers for hire shall be operated or navigated except in charge of a person duly licensed for such service by the local board of inspectors. No examination shall be Licensed navigator. required as the condition of obtaining such a license, and any such license shall be revoked or suspended by the local board of inspectors for misconduct, gross negligence, recklessness in navigation, intemperance, or violation of law on the part of the holder, and if revoked the person holding such license shall be incapable of obtaining another such license for one year from the date of revocation: *Provided*, *Proviso*. Other officers. That motor boats shall not be required to carry licensed officers, except as required in this Act. Sec. 6. That every motor boat and also every vessel propelled by Extinguishing gasoline. machinery other than by steam, more than sixty-five feet in length, shall carry ready for immediate use the means of promptly and effectually extinguishing burning gasoline. Sec. 7. That a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars may be Penalty. imposed for any violation of this Act. The motor boat shall be liable for the said penalty and may be seized and proceeded against, by way of libel, in the district court of the United States for any district within which such vessel may be found. Sec. 8. That the Secretary of Commerce and Labor shall make such Regulations. regulations as may be necessary to secure the proper execution of this Act by collectors of customs and other officers of the Government. And the Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Labor may, upon application therefor, remit or mitigate any fine, penalty, or forfeiture relating to motor boats except for failure to observe the provisions of section six of this Act. Sec. 9. That all laws and parts of laws only in so far as they are Conflicting laws repealed. *Proviso*. International rules not affected. in conflict herewith are hereby repealed: *Provided*, That nothing in this Act shall be deemed to alter or amend Acts of Congress embodying or revising international rules for preventing collisions at sea. Sec. 10. That this Act shall take effect on and after thirty days In effect in 30 days. after its approval. Approved, June 9, 1910.