View report page

49
"The majority of the barges referred to are registered under the
"Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, and the Board of Trade have decided
"that the following requirements shall be made as to the construction of
"the crew space whenever such a vessel is inspected by a Surveyor, either
"upon registry or re-registry, or upon a complaint being made.
"The bulkhead between the crew space and cargo space should be a
"single water-tight bulkhead of two thicknesses of wood, tongued and
"grooved, with a layer of felt and coal tar between, and with angle strips
"of lead on both sides of the bulkhead all round its boundary, to prevent
"loss of tightness due to working.
"Any case in which it appears that the crew space is not sufficiently
"protected from the danger of effluvium arising from an offensive cargo,
"and that additional measures should be taken to prevent such danger,
"should be reported to the Board of Trade for instruction.
"The Surveyors are informed that the Port of London Sanitary
"Authority will co-operate with the Board of Trade in requiring the
"crew spaces of the barges referred to to be protected in the manner
"described.
" WALTER J. HOWELL.
"5th January, 1904."
In forwarding a copy of the instructions to your Worshipful Committee, it
was hoped that the Port of London Sanitary Authority would be so good as to
co-operate with the Officers of the Board of Trade in giving effect thereto.
With regard to the instructions referred to, I have to make the following
remarks:—
That I am of the opinion that if the bulkheads of the barges as
described are constructed in an efficient manner, the nuisance should
not only be abated, but the recurrence of the same prevented.
It should, however, I think, be definitely expressed that this bulkhead
must be water-tight, and must extend from the level of the deck to the
skin, that is, the outer planking of the vessel at the sides and bottom,
so as to effectually and permanently cut off the hold from the cabin, so
as not to allow any liquid or effluvium from the cargo to enter the
cabin space.
I also note that the requirements will only apply whenever a barge
carrying or about to carry an offensive cargo is inspected for registration
or re-registration.
As the barges are already registered and would only come up for
re-registration owing to damage which would alter the conditions under
which the barge was originally registered (and I note the instructions
to Surveyors puts the alternative ' or on a complaint being made,')