Navigation (Life-saving and Fire Appliances) Regulations (Amendment)

Legislation au C1924L00071 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1924. No. 71.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE NAVIGATION ACT 1912-1920.

I, 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 forthwith.

Dated this eighth day of May, 1924.

FORSTER,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

AUSTIN CHAPMAN,

Minister of State for Trade and Customs.

Amendment of Navigation (Life-saving and Fire Appliances) Regulations.

(Statutory Rules 1923, No. 86.)

1. Regulation 2 of the Navigation (Life-saving and Fire Appliances) Regulations is amended by adding at the end thereof the words ‘‘Division 5—River Murray Steam-ships.”

2. Regulation 3 of the Navigation (Life-saving and Fire Appliances) Regulations is amended—

(а) by omitting the definition of “Passenger Ship” and inserting in its stead the following

definition:—

‘“Passenger Ship’, ‘Passenger Steam-ship’, and ‘Passenger Sailing Ship’ mean respectively a ship, steam-ship or sailing ship which is certified to carry more than twelve passengers, and includes a ship, steamship or sailing ship, as the case may be, which, not being so certified, actually carries more than twelve passengers:”; and

(b) by adding at the end thereof the following definitions:—

“‘Ships certified to carry passengers’ means ships certified to carry more than twelve passengers, and includes ships which, not being so certified, actually carry more than twelve passengers;

‘Ships not certified to carry passengers’ means ships not certified to carry more than twelve passengers.”

C.6365.—Price 3d.

3. The Navigation (Life-saving and Fire Appliances) Regulation are amended by omitting regulation 9 and inserting in its stead the following Regulation:—

Life-buoys.

“9. A passenger steam-ship of Class I. shall carry approved life-buoys in accordance with the following scale:—

Length of Vessel.			Minimum Number of Life-buoys.
Under 200 feet..........................			6
200 feet and under 300 feet..................			8
300 ,, ,,	400	,,..............	12
400 ,, ,,	600	,,...............	18
600 ,, ,,	800	,,...............	24
800 feet or over..........................			30

4. The Navigation (Life-saving and Fire Appliances) Regulations are amended by omitting regulation 15 and inserting in its stead the following regulation:—

Life-buoys and jackets.

“15. (1) A steam-ship of Class II. shall carry approved lifebuoys as follows:—

(a) if under 100 feet in length, at least two life-buoys;

(b) if 100 feet or over in length, but under 200 feet, at least four life-buoys; and

(2) In all cases a steam-ship of Class II. shall carry one approved life-jacket for each person on board.”

5. The Navigation (Life-saving and Fire Appliances) Regulations are amended by omitting regulation 21 and inserting in its stead the following regulations:—

Life-buoys.

“21. (1) A sailing ship of Class IV. shall carry approved lifebuoys as follows:—

(a) if under 100 feet in length, at least two life-buoys; and

(b) if 100 feet or over in length, at least four life-buoys.

(2) In all cases a sailing ship of Class IV. shall carry one approved life-jacket for each person on board.”

6. Regulation 94 of the Navigation (Life-saving and Fire Appliances) Regulations is amended by inserting at the end of sub-regulation (1) the words “, or less than two in any sailing vessel.”.

7. Regulation 107 of the Navigation (Life-saving and Fire Appliances) Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (1) thereof and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulations:—

“(1) In all sea-going steam-ships there shall be available at all times ample steam or equivalent pumping power, of a type approved by the Deputy Director, capable of delivering a forceful and abundant supply of water to the fire hoses for extinguishing fire in any part of the ship.

(1a) Steam-ships to which this regulation applies shall, if their keels are laid after the first day of January, 1925, carry approved steam or equivalent fire pumps in accordance with the following scale:—

Gross Tonnage of Ship.	Minimum Number of Pumps.
2,000 tons and under 4,000 tons.....	2
4,000 tons and upwards..........	3

“(1b) One of the pumps required by the last preceding sub-regulation to be carried shall be situated elsewhere than in the main engine-room, but may be situated in either the stokehold or donkey-boiler space when that space is separated from the main engine-room by a fire-proof bulkhead.”.

8. Regulation 108 of the Navigation (Life-saving and Fire Appliances) Regulations is amended by omitting sub-regulation (2) thereof and inserting in its stead the following sub-regulation:—

“(2) Steam-ships to which this regulation applies shall also, if so required by the Deputy Director, be provided with an installation capable of discharging fire-extinguishing froth in large quantities into each boiler-room and so arranged that it may be put into action from outside the space affected.”.

9. Regulation 111 of the Navigation (Life-saving and Fire Appliances) Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting paragraph (d) and inserting in its stead the following paragraph:—

“(d) with portable chemical fire extinguishers of a fluid type approved by the Director, to be distributed in the proportion of—

(i) not less than two on each deck of each compartment in which passengers are accommodated:

Provided that one extinguisher instead of two may be carried on a deck of a compartment if installed in a ‘thwartship passage-way or open space about the middle of the length of the compartment;

(ii) not less than three in the spaces occupied by the crew; and

(iii) not less than two in the machinery space; and”; and

(b) by adding at the end of paragraph (e) the words “Provided that one extinguisher instead of two may be carried in a space if so placed in a central position as to be equally available for use on either side of the ship, as required.”

10. Regulation 112 of the Navigation (Life-saving and Fire Appliances) Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting the figure “7” and inserting in its stead the figure “1”;

(b) by omitting paragraph (b) of the proviso thereto and inserting in its stead the following paragraph:—

“(b) It shall not be compulsory to provide more than two portable chemical fire extinguishers in each compartment occupied by passengers;”;

(d) by inserting at the end of the proviso thereto a paragraph as follows:—

“and (e) in the case of a steam-ship under 500 tons gross register, it shall not be compulsory to provide more than one chemical fire extinguisher in the machinery space.”

11. Regulation 115 of the Navigation (Life-saving and Fire Appliances) Regulations is amended by omitting the figures “100” inserting in their stead the figures “500”.

12. Regulation 116 of the Navigation (Life-saving and Fire Appliances) Regulations is amended—

(a) by omitting the word and figures “under 100” and inserting in their stead the words and figures “not more than 500”;

(b) by omitting from paragraph (a) of the proviso thereto the word “and”; and

“and (c) it shall not be compulsory to provide more than one chemical fire extinguisher for use on deck or in spaces occupied by the crew, and, if the vessel is equipped with auxiliary propelling machinery, one additional extinguisher in the machinery space.”.

13. The Navigation (Life-saving and Fire Appliances) Regulations are amended by inserting at the end thereof the following Division:—

Division 5.—River Murray Steam-ships

River Murray passenger steamers.

“118. Passenger steam-ships plying on the River Murray shall be provided with—

(a) an efficient fire pump, approved by the surveyor, together with a fire hose, not less than 1½ inch in diameter, in one or more lengths, fitted with nozzle, capable of supplying a forceful supply of water to any part of the vessel;

(b) not less than four fire buckets, to be kept filled with water and ready for use in case of emergency; and

(c) one chemical fire extinguisher, for use on deck or in spaces occupied by the crew and passengers, for every 100 persons, or part thereof, the ship is certified to carry, and one extinguisher in the machinery space.

River Murray cargo steam-ship.

“119. Cargo steam-ships plying on the River Murray shall be equipped as provided in the last preceding regulation, but, in the case of a cargo vessel of less than 100 tons gross register, if two additional fire buckets are carried, it shall not be compulsory to provide a fire pump and hose.

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

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1924, No. 71, under the Navigation Act 1912-1920, were introduced by the Governor-General acting on advice from the Federal Executive Council. This legislation aimed to address safety and fire protection standards on vessels, particularly focusing on passenger and cargo ships plying the River Murray. The regulations sought to ensure that vessels had adequate life-saving and fire-extinguishing equipment, tailored to the specific needs of different ship classes and sizes. The objective was to enhance maritime safety and reduce the risk of accidents and fatalities on Australia's inland waterways, particularly for passenger steamers and cargo ships operating on the River Murray.

Scope and Application

The Regulations under the Navigation Act 1912-1920, which include amendments to the Navigation (Life-saving and Fire Appliances) Regulations, apply to various classes of vessels, including passenger ships, steam-ships, and sailing ships, as well as river Murray steam-ships. These regulations are concerned with the mandatory life-saving and fire appliances required on these vessels. The geographic reach of these regulations is national, as they are made under the Commonwealth's authority. The regulations apply to vessels operating within Australia's territorial waters and are applicable to all states and territories under the Commonwealth's jurisdiction. The regulations set specific standards for the number of life-buoys, life-jackets, fire buckets, and fire extinguishers based on the vessel's length, class, and the number of passengers it is certified to carry. Notably, the regulations provide exemptions for certain smaller vessels, such as allowing one instead of two chemical fire extinguishers in specific circumstances. These regulations are enforced through subordinate instruments and may be further specified or amended by additional legislative or administrative actions.

Key Provisions

The Regulations under the Navigation Act 1912-1920, as detailed in Statutory Rules 1924, No. 71, include several significant amendments to the Navigation (Life-saving and Fire Appliances) Regulations. Firstly, the definition of “Passenger Ship” in Regulation 3 has been expanded to include any ship, steam-ship, or sailing ship certified to carry more than twelve passengers or which, even without such certification, actually carries more than twelve passengers. The new definitions also distinguish between ships certified to carry passengers and those not so certified. Regulation 9 now mandates specific numbers of approved life-buoys for passenger steam-ships of Class I, based on the vessel’s length, ranging from a minimum of six life-buoys for ships under 200 feet to a maximum of thirty for ships 800 feet or over. Similarly, Regulation 15 outlines the requirements for life-buoys on steam-ships of Class II, based on length, and mandates one approved life-jacket for each person on board. The Regulations impose several obligations on the parties and entities they govern. Passenger steam-ships of Class I must carry the specified number of life-buoys according to the vessel's length, and steam-ships of Class II must also carry a minimum number of life-buoys depending on their length and one approved life-jacket for each person on board. Sailing ships of Class IV are required to carry at least two life-buoys if under 100 feet in length and at least four if 100 feet or over. Sea-going steam-ships must ensure ample steam or equivalent pumping power is available for fire extinguishing, and those laid down after January 1, 1925, must carry a specific number of approved steam or equivalent fire pumps based on gross tonnage. Additionally, River Murray passenger steamers must be equipped with an efficient fire pump, a fire hose, at least four fire buckets, and chemical fire extinguishers based on the number of persons certified. Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to significant penalties and consequences. While the exact penalties are not detailed in the text, non-compliance with maritime safety regulations generally can result in both civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties may include fines, while criminal penalties could involve imprisonment, reflecting the seriousness of ensuring maritime safety and life-saving equipment standards are met.

Area of Law: Maritime Law
Instrument: Legislative Instrument
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Reporting & Disclosure Obligations; Enforcement Powers

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

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