TREATIES Each Administration is authorised to exempt passenger ships belonging to its country from 3,000 tons to 5,500 tons gross ton- nage, both included, from the requirement of a continuous watch for a period not exceeding one year from the date of the coming into force of the present Convention, provided that during the period of such exemption they shall maintain a watch of at least 8 hours per day. 2. Cargo Ships. Cargo ships. Each cargo ship which, in accordance with Article 27, is required to be fitted with a radiotelegraph installation, shall, for safety pur- poses, carry a qualified operator, and, if not fitted with an auto-alarm, shall, whilst at sea, keep watches by means of a qualified operator or a certified watcher, as under:- (a.) All cargo ships under 3,000 tons gross tonnage, as deter- mined by the Administration concerned; (b.) Cargo ships from 3,000 to 5,500 tons gross tonnage, both included, at least 8 hours' watch per day; (c.) Cargo ships over 5,500 tons gross tonnage, continuous watch. Each Administration is authorised to exempt ships belonging to its country included in (c) above from the requirement of a continu- ous watch for a period not exceeding one year from the date of the coming into force of the present Convention, provided that during the period of such exemption they shall maintain a watch of at least 8 hours per day. Each Administration is also authorised to exempt ships belonging to its country from 5,500 tons to 8,000 tons gross tonnage from the requirement of a continuous watch for a further period of one year, provided that during this further period of exemption they shall maintain a watch of at least 16 hours per day. Auto-alarm. 3. On all ships fitted with an auto-alarm this auto-alarm shall, whilst the ship is at sea, always be in operation when the operator or watcher is not on watch. On ships for which the hours of watch are to be determined by the Administration concerned, such watch should be maintained pref- erably at hours prescribed for radiotelegraph service by the Inter- national Radiotelegraph Convention in force. On ships which are required to keep 8 hours' or 16 hours' watch per day, such watch shall be maintained at the hours prescribed for radiotelegraph service by the International Radiotelegraph Con- vention in force. 1152
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