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that there was a difference of opinion as to the best method of cutting off the
hold space from the inhabited quarters. There was the method recommended
by the Port Sanitary Authority above referred to, whilst three shipwright
surveyors of the Board of Trade each suggested a different plan, but each
plan agreed with the principle that no gases or liquid must be allowed to pass
from the hold to the inhabited quarters. Finally the Board of Trade issued
instructions to their Surveyors, which I append herewith, which should effect
the desired end if properly carried out:—
The Surveyors, London District, are informed that the Board of
Trade have had under consideration the desirability of affording
additional protection from effluvium in the case of the crew spaces of
barges carrying offensive cargoes.
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 watertight 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.
Paragraph 25 of the Instructions, as to the Survey of Masters and
Crew Spaces should, for the purpose of these vessels, be read as amended
by this Minute.
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.
5th January, 1904.
Since that time the Statutory Notices served by direction of your
Worshipful Committee have merely required the nuisance to be abated, and
such works to be carried out as will prevent a recurrence of the same, leaving
the owners the option of adopting whichever method they like ; but the onus
of preventing a recurrence must rest with them.