I move: That the Bill be now read a Second Time. This is a Bill to give effect to Article 41 of an International Convention for the safety of life at sea signed in London on 31st March, 1929. It amends the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1921, in so far as it is necessary to give effect to the said Article 41. Article 41 is as follows:—
The contracting Governments agree that after midnight on the 30th June, 1931, helm or steering orders, i.e., orders to the steersman, shall on all their ships be given in the direct sense, e.g., when the ship is going ahead an order containing the word "starboard," or "right," or any equivalent of "starboard," or "right," shall only be used when it is intended, on ships as at present generally constructed and arranged, that the wheel, the rudder-blade and the head of the ship shall all move to the right.
In ancient days when there was a rudder of a different type, with a shaft out of it, when they wanted a ship to go to the right, they moved the rudder to the left. In consequence of that a practice grew up which became obsolete with the modern type of ship. An International Convention for the giving of orders at sea was adopted and will be applied as from the beginning of next year on British ships. It has always been the practice on American ships and ships of other countries. It is desired that our law should be in conformity with the law of Great Britain and it is desirable, therefore, to have the Bill passed before the end of the year.
