Emergency loudspeaker systems will become mandatory January 1, 1938, on all United States passenger vessels, according to a new ruling of the commerce department.
Under the 43rd supplement of the department's "safety of sea" regulations, all passenger carriers with lifeboats stored 100 feet or more. from the bridge must be equipped with such apparatus by the close of the present year.
Deadline January 1
The regulation is an outgrowth of the disastrous Morro Castle fire several years ago. It was adopted by the bureau of marine inspection and navigation in the belief that an adequate and authoritative "voice" audible in all portions of the ship, might prevent panic among passengers and crew in times of great During the last three months, British yards began work on 367,698 tons of new merchant vessels, increase of 114,205 tons over the previous quarter. The total tonnage now under construction in other countries is 1,682,887 tons and is about 245,000 tons above the figure for March.
The leading countries are Germany, 416,881 tons; Japan, 318,277 tons; the United States, 198,654 tons; Holland, 188.464 tons; and Sweden, 138,720.
Of the world's total of 2,882,860 tons now under construction, the British, yards are building 41.6 per cent. "About 100,000 tons, equal to 83 per cent. of the tonnage being built in the British yards, is intended for registration abroad or for sale—Reuter. emergency, As the order now stands, no' ships will operate after January 1 unless they are so equipped, and ships installed with the loudspeaker system must have their apparatus thoroughly tested and approved before clearing any port of call.
Cost $15,000 Per Ship Compliance with the new regulations, it is said, will mean an penditure of approximately $15,000 per vessel, much of it on tonnage which the maritime commission already considers obsolete, Approximately 40 loudspeaker outlets, placed at boat stations, landing stations, in public rooms, and corridors are required by the regulations. Certain of the outlets at strategic points will be "talk back" stations. through which a member of the crew may converse with officers on the bridge.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.