TREATIES Fire-resisting bulk- heads. Side and other open- ings, etc. Design, construe- ton, etc. at any part than a horizontal plane passing through the point of inter- section with the frame line amidships of a transverse diagonal line inclined at 25 degrees to the base line and cutting it at a point one- half the ship's moulded breadth from the middle line. (5.) Wells constructed in the double bottom in connection with the drainage arrangements shall not extend downwards more than necessary, nor shall they be less than 18 inches (457 millimetres) from the outer bottom or from the inner edge of the margin plate. A well extending to the outer bottom is, however, permitted at the after end of the shaft tunnel of screw ships. REGULATION XVI. Fire-resisting Bulkheads. Ships shall be fitted above the bulkhead deck with fire-resisting bulkheads which shall be continuous from side to side of the ship and arranged to the satisfaction of the Administration. They shall be constructed of metal or other fire-resisting material, effective to prevent for one hour, under the conditions for which the bulkheads are to be fitted in the ship, the spread of fire generating a temperature of 1,500° F. (815° C.) at the bulkhead. Steps and recesses and the means for closing all openings in these bulkheads shall be fire-resisting and flametight. The mean distance between any two adjacent fire-resisting bulk- heads in any superstructure shall in general not exceed 131 feet (40 metres). REGULATION XVII. Side and other Openings, &c., above the Margin Line. (1.) Sidescuttles, gangway, cargo and coaling ports, and other means for closing openings in the ship's sides above the margin line shall be of efficient design and construction and of sufficient strength having regard to the spaces in which they are fitted and their positions relative to the deepest subdivision loadline. (2.) The bulkhead deck or a deck above it shall be weathertight in the sense that in ordinary sea conditions water will not penetrate in a downward direction. All openings in the exposed weather deck shall have coamings of ample height and strength, and shall be pro- vided with efficient means for expeditiously closing them weathertight. (3.) Freeing ports and/or scuppers shall be fitted as necessary for rapidly clearing the weather deck of water under all weather con- ditions. 1218
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