Navigation (Grain, Coal and Ballast) Regulations (Cth)

STATUTORY RULES.

1923. No. 135.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE NAVIGATION ACT 1912-1920.

I THE DEPUTY OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Navigation Act 1912-1920, to come into operation on and from the first day of October, 1923.

Dated this twenty-sixth day of September, 1923.

W. H. IVRINE,

Deputy of the Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

EARLE PAGE,

For the Minister of State for Trade and Customs.

NAVIGATION (GRAIN, COAL AND BALLAST) REGULATIONS.

Part I.—Preliminary.

Short title.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Navigation (Grain, Coal and Ballast) Regulations.

Parts.

2. These Regulations are divided into parts as follows:—

Part  I.—Preliminary.

Part  II.—General.

Part  III.—Grain Cargoes.

Division 1.—Bulk loading in steam-ships.

Division 2.—Bulk loading in wooden sailing vessels.

Division 3.—Bulk loading in iron or steel sailing vessels.

Division 4.—Grain loaded in bags.

Part  IV.—Coal Cargoes.

Part  V.—Ballast.

Definition.

3. In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—

“Grain” includes wheat, oats, maize, barley, rice, paddy, pulse, seed, nuts or nut kernels, or any mixture or combination thereof,

“Ballast” means sand, stones, or any other form of ballast of a shifting nature, except water contained in properly constructed ballast tanks,

“Surveyor” means a surveyor appointed under the Act,

“The Act” means the Navigation Act 1912-1920,

and any reference to a form shall be read as a reference to a form in Schedule II. to these Regulations.

C.14422.—Price 5d.

 

Part II.—General.

Application.

4. (1) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, these Regulations shall apply to every British or foreign ship carrying or loading at any port in Australia, grain either in bulk or in bags, or coal, or ballast.

(2) These Regulations shall not apply to—

(a) River and Bay ships;

(b) Ships trading exclusively within the limits of a single State; or

(c) Australian-trade or limited coast-trade steam-ships engaged in trade between ports in Australia, loading cargoes of grain in bulk less than one-third of their total cargo capacity, or loading coal, except that the next succeeding regulation shall apply to those ships loading coal.

Notification of intention to load.

5. (1) Where it is proposed to load into any ship to which these Regulations apply bulk grain (in any quantity) or grain in bags or coal (to the extent of more than one-half the total cargo capacity of the ship) or any ballast, the master or owner shall give notice to the Deputy Director—

(а) in the case of a grain cargo, in Form GCB-1, 24 hours before loading is to commence, or such less time as may be allowed in special cases by the Deputy Director but in any case in sufficient time to permit of an inspection of the ship being made before any fittings are erected;

(b) in the case of a coal cargo, in Form GCB-2, in sufficient time, as regards a foreign-going steam-ship or a sailing ship, to permit of an inspection of the ship being made before loading is commenced, and in the case of other steam-ships, before loading is completed; and

(c) in the case of ballast, at least 24 hours before ballasting is completed.

(2) The notification in Form GCB-1 shall contain inter alia the following particulars:—

(a) Name of ship, dead-weight cargo capacity, and intended voyage;

(b) The kind of grain to be loaded and the quantity thereof, which quantity may be stated in cubic feet, or in tons weight;

(c) The proposed distribution of the grain in the various holds of the ship;

(d) The precautions intended to be taken to secure the grain against shifting; and

(e) The mean (loaded) draught, and freeboard.

(3) In regard to ships loading coal or ballast, the notification shall contain so many of the particulars required by the last preceding sub-regulation as apply to coal or ballast.

Certificate of compliance with Regulations.

(4) At outports, the notification required by this regulation shall be made to the local Sub-Collector of Customs in the same manner as it is required to be made to a Deputy Director.

Report of grain cargo loaded.

6. If the loading is satisfactory to the surveyor he shall, if required by the master, issue a certificate in Form GCB-3 that these Regulations have been complied with.

7. The master of any ship to which these Regulations apply shall, on the completion of loading a full cargo of grain, cause to be delivered to the Deputy Director or at outports to the Sub-Collector of Customs, in Form GCB-4, a report of the grain cargo loaded and the precautions taken to prevent the cargo from shifting, and such other particulars as are required under the various headings contained in the Form.

Part III.—Grain Cargoes.

Division 1.—Bulk Loading.

Requirements to be observed in connexion with loading of grain.

8. (1) Where bulk grain is loaded in any ship, shifting boards and feeders shall be erected in the ship to the satisfaction of the surveyor:

Provided that where the amount of bulk grain loaded is less than one-third of the ship’s total dead-weight cargo capacity, the provisions of these Regulations in regard to shifting boards and feeders shall not, unless the Deputy Director so directs, apply:

Provided further that if the grain is distributed in the various holds so that not more than one-third of the dead-weight cargo capacity of any lower hold is contained therein, shifting boards or feeders shall not be required in that hold, but the grain shall be levelled off and secured from shifting by being covered with not less than four tiers of bags in the manner prescribed in regulation 10 of these Regulations:

Provided also that if the grain is distributed in the various holds so that one-third or more, but not the whole of the dead-weight cargo capacity of any lower hold is contained therein, feeders shall not be required in that hold, but unless the Deputy Director otherwise directs, shifting boards shall be required, and one-fourth of the grain shall be in bags, stowed as prescribed in regulation 10 of these Regulations.

Shifting boards, &c.

(2) Shifting boards, where fitted—

(a) shall extend from the upper deck to the floor, and shall be grain-tight, with grain-tight fillings between the beams, and shall extend to the top of all amidship feeders; and

(b) shall be properly secured, to the satisfaction of the surveyor, to stanchions, or, where there are no stanchions, between uprights, and shored or stayed in position. The scantlings of the shifting boards, uprights, shores, or wire stays shall be as prescribed in Schedule I. of these Regulations.

(3) Except where otherwise specially approved by the surveyor, outer ends of shores of shifting boards shall be on the frames of the vessel, and not against the plating.

(4) All wood hatch feeders and wooden bulkheads shall be boarded on the inside.

(5) The ceiling of the holds shall be made thoroughly grain-tight, and the cement between the frames above the ceiling shall be made thoroughly sound and be free from cracks.

(6) No grain shall be loaded into any hold until the limbers have been cleaned and have been inspected by a surveyor.

(7) The grain shall be well trimmed into the wings and the spaces between the beams completely filled, and the ship shall be so loaded as to give sufficient stability. The ship shall not be overloaded.

Carriage of grain between decks.

9. (1) No bulk grain shall be carried in between decks, or, where a ship has more than two decks, between the two upper decks, unless in feeders, properly constructed, to fill any orlop deck and the lower hold.

(2) For the purposes of this regulation, the lower hold and the third or lowest deck may be considered as together constituting the lower hold if there are sufficient openings in the deck and the distance to the bulkheads does not exceed the distance prescribed in regulation 15 of these Regulations.

 

(3) When trunked feeders pass through a ‘tween deck, such feeders shall be well blocked off with grain in bags or general cargo, but if the vessel is too deep to carry any bagged grain or general cargo in the ‘tween decks, the feeders shall be shored or properly secured to the satisfaction of the surveyor.

Requirements for securing loose bulk grain.

10. (1) Where in these Regulations bulk grain is required to be over-stowed for the purpose of securing it against shifting, not less than four tiers of grain in bags, or other approved cargo, shall be used, and in order to facilitate the stowing of the bagged grain or other cargo, at least 6 feet of space shall be left below the beams to the top of the bulk grain. Bagged grain used for this purpose shall be in sound bags, and be properly stowed with the tiers laid close together.

(2) Before being over-stowed, the bulk grain shall be trimmed level and covered with two thicknesses of boards about 6 inches wide and 1 inch thick, the lower boards being placed fore and aft, and the upper boards athwart ships, with spaces between the lower boards of not more than 3 feet, and between the upper boards of not more than 9 inches.

Existing grain-tight divisions, &c., may be used.

11. The use of grain-tight divisions, shifting boards, shores, and wire rope stays, already fitted in the ship and in good condition, shall be permitted if approved by the surveyor.

Grain carried in poop, &c.

12. (1) Grain in poop, peaks, shelter, or bridge deck shall be contained in bags.

(2) Where grain is so carried, shifting boards shall be fitted deck to deck.

Bulkheads to divide continuous holds.

13. Steam-ships with a continuous hold, forward or aft, shall, if so required by the surveyor, have such hold divided transversely, to his satisfaction, either by means of a suitable bulkhead, or by means of bagged grain, built from the floor of the hold to the deck above.

Midship hatchway feeders, and wing feeders.

14. (1) Hatchway feeders shall in every case, where fitted, contain grain in amount not less than 2½ per cent. of the total grain in the hold: Provided that where wing feeders are required to be fitted in the same compartment as a hatchway feeder, the wing feeders and hatchway feeder combined shall contain not less than 2½ per cent., in the aggregate, of the total amount of grain in that compartment, the percentage of grain in each feeder being properly apportioned.

(2) When hatchway feeders are trunked, the sides and ends shall be grain-tight and strongly constructed of sound planks of approved size placed vertically and secured inside the hatch coamings, and stiffened and shored as the surveyor considers necessary.

(3) The feeders shall be divided longitudinally by fore and aft grain-tight shifting boards.

(4) Bunker hatches, if available, may with the approval of the surveyor be used as feeders where practicable.

(5) Subject to regulation 15 of these Regulations, single-deck steamers with high hatch coamings may load full or part cargoes of bulk grain by utilizing the hatch coamings as feeders: Provided that where a hatch coaming above any hold is too small to accommodate 2½ per cent. of the total grain in that hold, or, where the prescribed distance from the hatchway feeder is exceeded, so much of the top of the bulk grain as is required by the surveyor shall be secured with grain in bags stowed as prescribed in these Regulations.

(6) When hatch coamings used as feeders extend into the hold a foot or more below the deck situated above the hold they feed, they shall, when required by the surveyor, have two 2-in. openings in the part below the deck between the beams at the sides, and holes the same distance apart on the ends of the coamings to allow the grain to feed into the wings and ends of holds.

(7) Wing feeders fitted in ’tween decks shall be strongly constructed and well secured, and shall contain, in the aggregate, grain in amount not less than 2½ per cent. of the quantity of bulk grain stowed beyond the prescribed distance from the midship hatchway feeders.

Distance of extremities of hold from feeder.

15. (1) Steam ships with laid ’tween decks and carrying bulk grain shall be fitted with hatchway feeders.

(2) Where any part of a hold or compartment lies beyond a radius of 24 feet (or any less distance specified by the surveyor) from the nearest hatchway feeder either—

(a) a wing feeder shall be provided to feed that part; or

(b) if there is no opening in the ’tween decks for a wing feeder, the bulk grain in that part shall be secured by the over-stowing, in the prescribed manner, of not less than four tiers of grain in bags.

Turret steamers with single deck or single deck and beams.

16. (1) Steam ships of the type known as “Turret,” with single deck or single deck and beams, may load full cargoes of grain in bulk, but shall have shifting boards, and if required by the surveyor, trimming bulkheads forward and aft extending from deck to floor, or if coming under hatches, to top of coaming, as directed by the surveyor, and substantially fitted to his satisfaction. The loose grain in the end compartments shall be secured in the manner prescribed.

Sheathing of stokehold bulkheads, &c.

17. (1) Stokehold bulkheads and donkey boiler recesses shall be sheathed with wood and made grain-tight, with an air space between the iron and the wood, when exposed to heat from the main or donkey boilers.

(2) Where the stokehold bulkheads and donkey boiler recesses are already properly sheathed, the surveyor may pass the vessel, but not less than 9 inches of air space will be required where the sheathing is to be erected or renewed.

(3) This regulation shall only apply where the fires of the main or donkey boilers are liable to cause damage by excessive heat.

Tank tops to be covered with grain-tight platform.

18. Where grain is carried in bulk in steam-ships having double-bottom water-ballast tanks, the latter shall be covered with a grain-tight platform (on 2½ inch by 3 inch scantling laid athwartships), made of two thicknesses of sound and dry planks each 1 inch thick, or of one thickness of planks 2 inches thick, but this platform may, if the surveyor so approves, be dispensed with where the top of the tanks are of heavy plates, and precautions to the satisfaction of the surveyor are taken against overflow from the bilges.

Grain-tight floors.

19. Steam-ships without ballast tanks, having a cargo platform in good order, shall not be required to fit a grain-tight floor over it, otherwise a grain floor to the satisfaction of the surveyor shall be required.

Support of wooden or temporary bulkhead.

20. Any wooden or temporary bulkhead dividing a cross bunker from a hold compartment containing grain shall be supported, in a manner approved by the surveyor, against collapse due to pressure from the grain in the hold after the coal in the cross bunker has been worked out, thereby depriving the bulkhead of the support the coal would otherwise give.

Note.—The following extract from a Notice issued by the Board of Trade is reprinted as a warning in connexion with the bulkheads referred to in this regulation:—

“The attention of Owners and Masters of vessels loading grain in bulk is drawn to the necessity of properly supporting the wood bulkheads that divide a cross bunker from a hold compartment containing grain. Cases have occurred recently where the bulkhead, not having been properly supported, has given way under the pressure of the grain in the adjoining hold, after the coal in the cross bunker had been worked out, and in consequence the grain cargo had shifted. Owners and Masters are therefore advised that such wood bulkheads require to be properly supported in the bunkers by shores, or otherwise, and special attention should be given to the cants at the bottom to ensure that they are wide enough, well fastened, and supported either by angle lugs riveted to the inner bottom plating or by fore and aft planks butted against the cants and well spiked to the ceiling in the bunkers.”

Division 2.—Bulk Loading in Wooden Sailing Vessels.

Limber boards, &c.

21. Before a cargo of grain in bulk is loaded in a wooden sailing vessel, the limber boards shall be lifted, and limbers and water courses to the ship’s pumps shall be thoroughly cleaned.

Bins for bulk grain.

22. (1) Bulk or loose grain shall be stowed in bins prepared for that purpose.

(2) Material for bins shall be of well-seasoned stock; unseasoned lumber shall not be used where it will come in contact with the grain.

Floor of bins.

23. (1) The floor of the bins shall be laid on scantling 2½ inches by 4 inches in size, 16 inches apart from centre to centre, supported by studs of corresponding size, also 16 inches from centre to centre.

(2) The floor shall be raised from 6 to 12 inches over the floor of the vessel, or in the bilge from 6 to 15 inches. In vessels that are very flat or sharp, the distance the floor is to be raised may be decreased or increased, as the case may be, at the discretion of the surveyor.

(3) In no case shall the floor of the bins be laid on loose dunnage.

(4) The floor shall be grain-tight, and shall extend from the keelson to the turn of the bilge. In vessels 300 tons net register and over, it shall be laid with two thicknesses of 1-in. boards, so placed that they break joints at the edges and ends.

(5) Sailing vessels under 300 tons net register may be permitted to have a single floor laid with 1-in. boards placed edge to edge, and having the seams covered with battens 2 inches by 1 inch, or edges lapped 1 inch.

Studs for forward and after bulkheads.

24. (1) The studs for the forward and after bulkheads for vessels not exceeding 14 feet depth of hold shall be equal to 4 by 6 inches in size; for ships of a greater depth than 14 feet, they shall be equal to 4 by 8 inches in size.

(2) The studs shall be set 20 inches apart from centre to centre, firmly secured at the top and bottom, properly braced in the centre, and cleated on the ceiling to resist the pressure of the grain.

Air strakes and open seams to be closed.

25. (1) All air strakes and open seams shall be closed, and the sides of the vessel above the turn of the bilge shall be sealed after the manner of clap boarding reversed, and not furred where it can be avoided. Where furring is used the ceiling shall be made grain-tight at the bilges and sides.

(2) All lodging and bosom knees not fitted tight to the deck shall be cleated grain-tight around the face of the knees.

Trimming bulkheads on vessels with single decks, &c.

26. (1) Sailing vessels with single deck or with one deck and beams carrying afull cargo of bulk grain shall have, in addition tothe forward and after end bulkheads, two trimming bulkheads (thus making division into three compartments) extending from the upper deck towithin 2 feet of the bottom of the vessel:

Provided that where the between decks are laid aft, the after bulkhead may extend only to the lower deck, and be so placed that,in loading, the middle compartment shall be entirely filled and the end compartments used to trim the vessel.

(2) If the end compartments are not entirely filled, care shall be taken that the cargo is properly covered and secured on top to prevent shifting.

(3) The studs of the trimming bulkheads shall be not less than 3 inches by 6 inches, and set 22 inches from centres. All studs shall be firmly secured at top and bottom, and properly braced and cleated.

Height of bulk grain.

27. (1) Sailing vessels carrying both bulk grain and grain in bags shall not carry bulk grain higher than to admit of the stowage of one-quarter of the cargo in bags, or not less than five tiers of bags over it, unless the vessel is under 500 tons net register, in which case the height may be regulated by the surveyor.

(2) In all cases the vessels carrying grain shall have adequate shifting boards fitted to the satisfaction of the surveyor.

28. (1) Vesselswith two decks, having bulk grain in hold as high as the ’tween decks, shall have strakes of ’tween-deck plank opened on eachside over the bulk in thewings and amidships, and have 3 or 4feet of bulk grain in wing and amidship feeders, uponwhich sufficient grain in bags or other cargo may be stowed over boardcoverings, as provided for in regulation 10 of these Regulations.

(2) Where the hold is not filled with bulk grain to the ’tween deck, enough space shall be left, and sufficient cargo stowed over it to properly secure it, in the manner prescribed in regulation 10 of these Regulations.

Size of pump well.

29. The pump-well shall be sufficiently large to admit of the passage of aman to the bottom of the hold, with room to work conveniently, and shall be grain-tight and ceiled.

Access to pump well.

30. Access to the pump well shall be had either by a man-hole through the upper deck, or by a clear passageway between decks from the after hatch. In no case shall it be from the main hatch.

Mast coats, casings, &c.

31. Masts, water-tanks, and pumps, whether of woodor iron, shall be properly cased, to prevent damage to the cargo from leakage, and mast coats shall be strong and tight.

Division 3.—Bulk Loading in Iron or Steel Sailing Vessels.

Application of preceding divisions.

32. The preceding Division of this Part shall also apply to iron or steel sailing vessels, excepting that in cases where the floor and ceiling are in such good condition as to warrant it, the extra floor and ceiling may be dispensed with, and, if the stanchions are not more than 4 feet apart, and are double, 2-in. or 3-in. planks may be fitted between them for shifting boards.

Vessels with iron or steel ’tween decks without openings for wing feeders.

33. In vessels having iron or steel ’tween decks without openings for wing feeders, the bulk grain in the lower hold shall be secured by at least five tiers of grain in bags, or its equivalent in other cargo, stowed over it in the manner prescribed in regulation 10 of these Regulations.

Deviation from Regulations.

34. In the case of vessels of unusual construction, necessitating deviation from the preceding regulations, the surveyor shall obtain the approval of the Deputy Director of Navigation for any such deviation.

Division 4.—Grain in Bags.

Shifting boards where grain carried in bags.

35. (1) Where grain is carried in bags, shifting boards fitted to the satisfaction of the surveyor shall extend from deck to deck in the ’tween decks, and not less than 6 feet downwards from the beams in the lower hold:

Provided that, except in special cases, steam-ships loading full cargoes of grain in bags in any hold or compartment shall not, unless the surveyor otherwise directs, be required to have shifting boards fitted in the lower hold.

Limbers to be cleaned, &c.

(2) Before the cargo is loaded the limbers shall be thoroughly cleaned and the wooden ceiling and cement between the frames shall be sound and free from open cracks.

Erection of shifting boards.

(3) The shifting boards required by sub-regulation (1) of this regulation to be erected in ’tween deck spaces may be constructed from hatches secured in stanchions or pillars, and in the case of ships without stanchions the hatches or planks may be fitted between two 4-in. by 4-in. uprights, tommed off top and bottom, or otherwise secured to the satisfaction of the surveyor.

Exemption from requirement as to shifting boards.

(4) If approved by the surveyor, fore and aft midship spaces under 8 feet in length may be exempted from the requirements as to shifting boards.

Securing of shifting boards.

(5) In the way of the hatchways, the shifting boards may be secured to stanchions on each side of the square of the hatch or as otherwise approved by the surveyor.

Hatches to be left off.

36. The ’tween hatches shall be left off when grain is carried in bags.

Dunnage requirements for bagged grain in steamships.

37. For the carriage of grain in bags in steam ships—

(a) Unceiled tank tops shall have not less than 2 inches of dunnage laid over the tank tops consisting of two layers of 1-in. boards, the bottom layer to be laid athwartships 6 inches apart, and the top layer fore and aft 3 inches apart:

(b) One inch of dunnage boards 3 inches apart shall be laid over a strip of burlap covering the limbers from the tank tops to the inside of frames;

(c) Tank tops with laid ceiling shall have 1 inch of dunnage laid over the ceiling and covered with burlap, mats, or sails, extending across the floor from the turn of the bilge on each side of the ship;

(d) In the ’tween decks, 1 inch of dunnage shall be laid athwart ship from the wing to wing over a fore and aft board laid along each wing to form a waterway and the athwartship dunnage shall extend inside the line of frames, and burlap shall be laid over the ’tween deck scupper holes to prevent loose grain finding its way to the bilges.

Dunnage requirements for bagged grain in sailing vessels.

38. The requirements of the preceding provisions of this Division shall, as far as practicable, apply also to the carriage of bagged grain in sailing vessels:

Provided that—

(a) in the case of wooden sailing ships loaded with grain in bags, they shall be dunnaged from 6 to 12 inches on the floor, and from 6 to 15 inches on the bilges, according to the form of the ship’s bottom, and 2 inches at the sides;

(b) shifting boards shall extend not less than 6 feet downwards from the lower hold beams;

(c) the pump-well shall be sufficiently large to admit the passage of a man to the bottom of the hold, with room to work conveniently when there, and shall be grain tight and ceiled;

(d) access to the pump-well shall be had either by a manhole through the upper deck or by a clear passage way between decks from the after hatch, and in no case shall it be from the main hatch;

(e) masts, water tanks, and pumps, whether of wood or iron, shall be properly cased to prevent damage from leakage, and mast coats shall be strong and tight; and

(f) the ’tween hatches shall be kept off and the scuppers safely secured to prevent loose grain from running down the ship’s timbers or frames into the limbers.

Power of Deputy Director to exempt Australian-trade and limited coast-trade ships loaded with grain in bags.

39. Unless the Deputy Director otherwise directs, the provisions of this Division in regard to shifting boards and dunnage shall not apply to Australian-trade or limited coast-trade steam ships loading grain in bags.

Part IV.—Coal Cargoes.

Thermometer to be carried.

40. (1) Every sailing ship, and every foreign-going steam ship to which these Regulations apply, loading coal as cargo or large quantities of coal as reserve bunkers, shall be equipped with at least one thermometer of a type approved by the surveyor, with provision for the lowering of the same into the body of the coal in a manner satisfactory to the surveyor.

(2) After a ship to which this regulation applies leaves port, the temperature of each hold shall be taken and recorded in the log-book at intervals of not more than 24 hours.

Ventilation.

41. (1) The holds of each ship loading coal shall be sufficiently ventilated to the satisfaction of a surveyor, to prevent the surface accumulation of gases.

(2) No coal shall be laden in any ship unless there are at least two ventilators, of a type approved by the surveyor, situated in positions best adapted for the surface ventilation of the hold or compartment.

(3) The openings for ventilators in upper decks, poops or forecastles shall be provided with suitable and efficient means for closing them expeditiously, in the event of the cowl requiring to be unshipped on account of bad weather or other causes.

(4) The means provided for closing the ventilators should be stowed in a safe, suitable, and convenient place either in or near the ventilators.

(5) A woodencap or iron lid firmly held in place and covered with a well fitting canvas cover lashed round the bottom ofthe ventilator coaming may be accepted as an efficient covering required by the last preceding sub-regulation.

(6) Upon report to the Deputy Director by a surveyorin regard to unsatisfactory hold ventilation, the Deputy Director may order proper and efficient ventilation to be provided before the ship is allowed to leave port.

Trimming of coal.

42. (1) Suitable provision shall be made toprevent the coal cargo from shifting, and the coal shall be well trimmed into the wings and up to the bulkheads.

(2) No ship shall leave port until the coal is trimmed off the deck, and the ship is in every respect fit to proceed to sea.

(3) In the case of sailing vessels, shifting boards of not less than 2 inches in thickness shall be fitted from main deck to ’tween deck, and for a depth of 4 feet in lower hold from ’tween deck downward.

Precautions against fire.

43. (1) Masters of ships loading coal at ports, in Australia, shall take every precaution against fire and explosion through the ignition of coal gas.

(2) All hatches shall be left open as long as possible after the coal is shipped, and before the ship puts to sea, and a free circulation of air shall be provided for in holds and other places below deck.

(3) Naked lights shall not be taken into, nor matches struck in, these spaces after the loading has been completed, and a safety lamp shall be provided for use on board.

Precautions to prevent cargo shifting when part discharged.

44. (1) In any case where a sailing ship discharges part of a coal cargo in any port in the Commonwealth, retaining only so much cargo as is required for stiffening purposes for proceding to another port, precautions approved by the surveyor shall be taken to prevent the cargo from shifting.

(2) The requirements of this regulation shall also apply to sailing ships loading a small quantity of coal for stiffening purposes, and such ships shall not leave port until the coal is trimmed level and precaution taken to prevent the coal from shifting.

Part V.—Ballast.

Shifting boards to be fitted.

45. Where ballast is carried in any ship to which these Regulations apply, approved shifting boards shall be fitted from the floor to at least 1 foot above the top of the ballast when trimmed.

Ballast to be trimmed.

46. No ship shall be allowed to leave port after loading ballast until the ballast is trimmed and properly secured against shifting, and the ship is in every respect fit to proceed to sea.

SCHEDULE I.

Requirements as to Shifting Boards, Etc., for. Bulk Grain Cargoes.

Requirements as to shifting board, &c.

1. Subject to the discretion of the Deputy Director, upon a surveyor’s report, to vary the requirements in special cases, the provisions of this Schedule in regard to shifting boards, uprights, and shores shall be complied with.

2. (1) In all cases the ends of the shifting boards shall be secured to the satisfaction of the surveyor. The housing mentioned in the next following sub-paragraph refers to cases where the shifting boards are fitted in channel bars or clamped to bulkhead stiffeners.

Shifting boards.

(2) The maximum unsupported span for shifting boards shall be as follows:—

Thickness.	Housing at Bulkheads.	Span.
In ‘tween decks and deck erections, bin bulkheads and trunk feeders............................................................	2 inches	3 inches	9 feet.
In holds.................................................................	2½ inches	3 inches	12 feet
In holds.................................................................	3 inches	3 inches	14 feet.

(3) When shifting boards in the way of the hatchways or elsewhere have a greater length than shown in the last preceding sub-paragraph, they shall be supported at the middle of their length by wood or angle-bar uprights having shores or steel wire rope stays set up at the ship’s side, or by some other efficient means approved by the surveyor.

(4) Where shifting boards after erection show signs of warping or other defects to an extent that in his opinion would tend to impair their grain tightness, the surveyor may require them to be further stiffened, between the shored uprights, by means of pairs of suitable uprights of wood or angle-bar, placed one on each side of the boards and bolted together.

Sizes, &c., of uprights.

3. (1) The following shall be the minimum sizes of the wood or angle-bar uprights to be used for the purposes of sub-paragraphs (3) and (4) of the preceding paragraph:—

Horizontal distances between centres of uprights.	Vertical span supported by each shore or stay.	Size of Uprights.
		Wood.	Angles.
8 feet..............................................	12 feet............................................	11" × 2½	3½ × 3½" × .425"
14 feet............................................	11" × 3"	4½" × 3" × .425"
16 feet............................................	11" × 3½"	5½" × 3½" × .4"
10 feet............................................	10 feet............................................	11" × 2½"	3½ × 3" × .375"
12 feet............................................	11" × 3"	4½" × 3" × .375"
14 feet............................................	11" × 3½"	5" × 3½" × .425''
12 feet............................................	9 feet .............................................	11"× 2½"	3½ × 3" × .375"
11 feet............................................	11" × 3"	4½" × 3" × .375"
13 feet............................................	11" × 3½"	5" × 3½" × .425"

(2) All uprights shall be securely bolted together through the shifting boards and firmly secured at top and bottom to the satisfaction of the surveyor.

(3) Long wood uprights may, with the approval of the surveyor, be built up of not more than two lengths, with plain butts, the joints on each pair being well clear of each other, and each joint, fished with

a doubling plank of sound timber at least 4 feet long, of the same breadth and thickness as the upright, bolted through to the opposite upright with three 7/8 inch bolts, suitably spaced, above and below the butt.

Sizes, &c., of shores.

4. (1) The length of shores may in ordinary cases be taken as approximately equal to one-half the registered breadth of the vessel, less one foot.

(2) The sizes of shores required in any case shall be ascertained in accordance with the following formula and table:—

Formula.

Let S = spacing of shores measured centre to centre fore and aft.

D = registered* depth (reduced aft by the height of tunnel above floors.)

N= number of shores to each upright.

Then  equals area in square feet of shifting boards to be supported by each shore.

Example.:—Registered breadth of vessel, 50 feet;

Spacing between shores, measured from centre to centre, fore and aft, 10 feet;

Registered depth of hold, 25.65 feet;

Number of shores to each upright, 4.

Then  − 1 = length of shore, 24 feet.

 = area of shifting boards per shore, 51.3 sq. ft.

From the following table it will be seen that a shore 24 feet long supporting an area of 50 sq. ft. of shifting board surface, is required to measure at least 6 inches across each side (if square), or 6½ inches in diameter (if round), at the middle of its length.

Table.

Length of shore.	20 feet.		21 feet.		22 feet.		23 feet.		24 feet.
Sizes of shores (in inches)	Area, in square feet per shore.		Area in square feet per shore.		Area in square feet per shore.		Area in square feet per shore.		Area in square feet per shore.
	Round.	Square.	Round.	Square.	Round.	Square.	Round.	Square.	Round.	Square.
5	31	52
5¼	37	62	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..
5½	43	72	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..
5¾	52½	87½	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..
6	62	103	55½	92½	49	82	42½	71	36	60
6¼	74	123	66	110	58½	97½	51	84½	43	71½
6½	86	143	77	128	68	113	59	98	50	83
6¾	100½	167½	90	150	79	132	68½	114	58	96½
7	115	192	102½	171½	90	151	78	130½	66	110
7¼	132	220	118	197	104½	174½	91	151½	77	128½
7½	149	248	134	223	119	198	103½	172½	88	147
7¾	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	101	168½
8	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	114	190

* Note. In computing the depth, it is unnecessary in ordinary cases to allow for sheer, as at the ends of the vessel the shores will be shorter than amidships.

  Diameter of round shores and side of square shores to be measured at middle of length.

(3) In ships exceeding 50 feet in breadth, the size of shores shall be as approved by the surveyor.

(4) Where instead of shores, steel wire rope stays are fitted for supporting the shifting boards, the maximum area of shifting board surface to be supported by one 3-inch steel wire rope stay shall not exceed 200 sq. feet.

Fitting of steel wire rope stays.

5. The method of fitting steel wire rope stays to wood uprights or vertical angles and to the sides of the ship shall be as approved by the surveyor, in accordance with general requirements as follows:—

(a) 3-inch flexible steel wire rope stays, fitted horizontally;

(b) 1¼-inch rigging screws, which as far as practicable shall be fitted at the side of the ship for convenience and easy access for tightening;

(c) 1-inch shackles;

(d) 1¼-inch screw eye bolts through wood or angle bar uprights. Where the uprights are of wood, two iron plates, each not less than 12 inches × 4½ inches × ½ inch, having holes to take the eye bolts, shall be provided as washers under the nuts of the eyebolts, in securing each pair of wire stays to an upright.

(e) Four ⅞-inch bolts, for securing each pair of wood or angle bar uprights together; and

(f) 1-inch eyeplates, efficiently riveted to side stringers or frames or, in special conditions, shackled to holes in the stringers or frames.

   

SCHEDULE II.

Forms.

(seal.)	Commonwealth of Australia	Form G.C.B. 1.
Nav. (Grain, Coal and Ballast) Regs., Reg. 5.	Navigation Act 1912-1920.	Port of............................ Date.......... /..... /19......

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO LOAD A GRAIN CARGO, EITHER BAGGED OR IN BULK.

Particulars of Ship and Cargo.

(1)	(2)	(3)			(4)			(5)			(6)
(a) Name of Ship, (b) Port of Registry and Official No., and (c) Name of Master.	(a) Registered Tonnage, (b) Owners or Agents.	(a) Type of Ship, (b) Number of Laid Decks.			Dead-weight Cargo Capacity.			(a) Freeboard loaded), (b) Mean Draught (loaded).			(a) Port of Destination, (b) Route (Cape or Canal), (c) Next Port of Call.
Tons.
(a).......................	Gross ……Net.........	(a)...................			........................			(a)....................			(a).............
(b).......................	(a)............................	........................			........................			(b).............
(c).......................	(b)............................	(b)...................			........................			(b).............			(c)..............
(7)	(8)		(9)							(10)
When Holds will be clear for Inspection. When loading will commence. Where Ship will be lying.	Total Quantity of Grain to be loaded. Kind of Grain...........		Compartments in which Grain is to be carried.							Precautions that will be taken to prevent Grain Cargo from shifting. (Continue on back hereof if not sufficient space.)
			Hold.			’Tween Decks.	Total Dead-weight Cargo capacity.
			No.	Tons.			Hold.		’Tween Decks.
Tons.
...........................	Bulk...................... Tons		.........	.........		..............	.............		..............	................................
...........................	Bagged..................  „		.........	.........		..............	.............		..............	................................
...........................	Total......................  „		.........	.........		..............	.............		..............	................................

 Master or Owner.

To the Deputy Director of Navigation, .................. /..... /19.....

...................................................

 

(For official use only.)

Office

Stamp.

 

(seal )	Form G.C.B. 2.
Commonwealth of Australia.
Nav. (Grain, Coal and Ballast) Reg., Reg. 5.	Navigation Act 1912-1920.	Port of.............................. Date............ /........ /19......

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO LOAD COAL OR BALLAST.

Particulars of Ship and Cargo, etc.

(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)
(a) Name of Ship, (b) Port of Registry and Official No., (c) Name of Master.	(a) Registered Tonnage. (b) Owners or Agents.	(a) Type of Ship, (b) Trade employed.	Dead-weight Cargo capacity.	(a) Freeboard (loaded), (b) Mean Draught.	(a) Port of Destination, (b) Route, (c) Next Port of Call.

Tons.
............................	Gross...... Net.......	(a) (a).....................	.........................	(a)..................	(a).................
............................	(a).........................	(a) (b).....................	.........................	.......................	(b).................
............................	(b).........................	.........................	.........................	(b)..................	(c)..................

It is intended to commence loading.............. tons of.............. in the above-named ship at

............................    on...... /........ 19.... The ship will be lying at.................................

............................ , and it is expected that loading will be completed and the ship ready to

proceed to sea at................ , on............. /....... /19......

 Master or Owner.

/

/19 

*To the Deputy Director of Navigation.

.............................................................................

* Note.—At an outport this notice is to be delivered to the Sub-Collector of Customs.

 

(For official use only.)

Office

Stamp.

————————

 

(SEAL.)	Commonwealth of Australia.	Form G.C.B. 3. No
Navigation Act 1912-1920.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE NAVIGATION (GRAIN, COAL AND BALLAST) REGULATIONS.

This is to certify that the.................................... “..................... ”completed loading a

cargo of........................ .‘at the port of ...............................................................................  

on / /19 , and that the Navigation (Grain, Coal, and Ballast) Regulations 1923, under Section 257 of the Navigation Act 1912-1920 have been complied with.

 

Deputy Director of Navigation.

................................ Surveyor.

 Port of.................................... , / / 19

................................ Regd.

 

(seal )	Commonwealth of Australia.	Form G.C.B. 4.
Nav. (Grain, Coal and Ballast) Regs. Reg. 7.	Navigation Act 1912-1920.	Port of.................................. Date................................. 19.............................

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.

 

MASTER’S REPORT TO THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF NAVIGATION.

Relating to the Loading of a Grain Cargo.

Ship.

Particulars as to Draught of Water, &c. (The draught of water and clear side should be that after completion of loading, as and defined by Section 436 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894.)

Kind of Grain Cargo. (The various kinds of grain, seeds, &c. only need be stated in this column, as the weights are given in the next column.)

Total Quantity of Grain Cargo. (This may be stated in Cubic Feet or Tons weight.)

Mode in which the Grain Cargo is stowed. (This must be stated in the same measure as the “Total quantity” in the previous column.) * No bulk grain may be carried in the ’tween decks, or, if the ship has more than two decks, between the main and upper decks, except such as may be necessary for feeding the cargo in the hold and is carried in properly constructed feeders.

Precautions taken against Shifting. (1) If the ship is loaded in accordance with the Navigation (Grain, Coal and Ballast) Regulations, a Statement must be made here of the fact. (2) If loaded under Regulations approved by the Board of Trade, a Statement must be made here of the fact, giving the title of the Regulations.

(1)

(2)

Name

Draught of Water in Feet and Inches.

Depth of Hold, to be taken from Certificate of Registry.

Clear side in Feet and Inches, at lowest part of side.

Where noted. Date and Hour.

Port of Registry

Official No.

Forward.

Aft.

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

In Cubic Feet here

Quantity in Bulk

....... *Tween’ Decks.

Gross Tonnage

If the water is not salt, state here what would be the freeboard if in salt water.

...................... Hold

.............. In Feeders

Registered Tonnage

Remarks.

Quantity In Bags.

....... *Tween Decks.

or, In Tons weight here.

...................... Hold

Number of Decks laid

In stating the “quantity ” in bags, it is not necessary to give the “ number ” of bags.

To the Deputy Director of Navigation, Signed Master.

.....................................................

(For official use only.)  Office Stamp,

The above ship left the port of...................... on the............ day of........................... 19.... , for........................................................................ viâ..................

.................................... Surveyor. .................................... Deputy Director.