SEVENTIETH C ONGRESS . SESS . II. CH. 508. 1929.
1493 (b) Merchant vessels of the United States of two hundred and Amer ican vesse ls loading at foreign ports, fifty gross tons or over, loading at or proceeding to sea from any the Great Lakes ex- fore ign po rt or place for a voyage by sea , the Great Lakes except ed . SEC. 2. The Secretary of Commerce is hereby authorized and Lo ad water lines and directed in respect of the vessels defined in section 1 (a) and (b) to loa ding dep ths maximum be establish by regulations from time to time the load water lines and established by regula- marks thereof indicating the maximum depth to which such vessels may safely be loaded and in establishing such load lines due con- sideration shall be given to, and differentials made for, the various types and character of vessels and the trades in which they are engaged : Provided, That no load line shall be established or marked of~ Sabove line of on any vessel, which load line, in the judgment of the Secretary of safety . Commerce, is above the actual line of safety . Such regulations Regulations to have shall have the force of law .
force of law . SEC. 3. It shall be the duty of the owner and of the master of Marking required . every vessel subject to this Act and to the regulations established thereunder to cause the load line or lines so established to be per- manently and conspicuously marked upon the vessel in such manner as the Secretary of Commerce shall direct, and to keep the same so Appointment of marked. The Secretary of Commerce shall appoint the American American Bureau of Shippin g, etc ., to su r- Bureau of Shipping, or such other American corporation or asso- vey and determine if ciation for the survey or registry of shipping as may be selected by marking, etc ., c orrec t. him, to determine whether the position and manner of marking on suc h vess els th e load line or lin es so establi shed a re in accord ance with the provisions of this Act and of the regulations established thereunder : Provided, however, That, at the request of the ship- Proviso . co rpora tion , at owner, the Secretary of Commerce may appoint, for the purpose afore- request of shippers, of said, any other corporation or association for the survey or registry Government ofcer . of shipping which the Secretary of Commerce may approve ; or the Secretary of Commerce may appoint for said purpose any officer of the Government, who shall perform such services as may be directed by the Secretary of Commerce. The Secretary of Com- merce may, in his discretion, revoke any appointment made pursuant Certificate from ex- to this section . Such corporation, association, or officer shall, upon aminers, approving approving the position and manner of marking of such load line marking, etc . or lines, issue a certificate, in a form to be prescribed by the Sec- retary of Commerce, that the same are in accordance with the pro- visions of this Act and of the regulations established thereunder, and Copy of, to master of vessel . shall deliver a copy thereof to the master of the vessel . It shall Departure wi th out be unlawful for any vessel sub j ect to this Act and to said regula- c
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copy of certificae, un- tions to depart from any port or place designated in section (1) lawful . without bearing such mark or marks, approved and certified by such corporation, association, or officer, and without having on board a co ny of sai d certifi cate . ~JEC. 4. It shall be unlawful for any vessel subject to this Act and meLoading oasofb to the regulations established thereunder to be so loaded as to sub- lines, unlawful . merge, in sea water, the load line or lines marked pursuant to this Act and to the regulations established thereunder applicable to her Submer g in g the voyage ; or so as to submerge under like conditions the point where point where load lines such load line or lines ought to be marked pursuant to the provisions should be marked . of this Act and of the regulations established thereunder ; or so as in any manner to violate the said regulations . SEC. 5. Whenever the Secretary of Commerce shall certify that E xempt ions of ves- sels of any foreign coun- the laws and regulations in force in any foreign country relating ~ry,sof all iin gtoioth to load l ines a re equ ally e ffecti ve wit h the r egulat ions e stabli shed lines . under this Act, the Secretary of Commerce may direct, on proof that a vessel of that country has complied with such foreign laws and regulations, that such vessel and her master and owner shall be exempted from compliance with the provisions of this Act, except
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