Stairways and deck room.
Every such steam-vessel carrying passengers on the main-deck shall be provided with permanent stairways and other sufficient means, convenient to the passengers, for their escape to their upper deck, in case of the vessel sinking or of other accident endangering life; and in the stowage of freight upon such deck, where passengers are carried, gangways or passages, sufficiently large to allow persons to pass freely through them, shall be left open both fore and aft of the vessel, and also to and along the guards on each side. (R. S., 4484.)
The captain or mate of every such steam-vessel carrying passengers upon the main-deck shall assign to all deck-passengers, when taking passage, the space on deck they may occupy during the voyage, and such space shall not thereafter be occupied by freight nor overcrowded by other persons, nor shall freight be stowed about the boilers or machinery, in such a manner as to obstruct or prevent the engineer from readily attending to his duties. (R. S., 4485.)
For every violation of the provisions of the two preceding sections the owners of the vessel shall be punished by a fine of three hundred dollars. (R. S., 4486.)
CHAPTER X
PASSENGER ACT OF 1882
The laws governing the carriage of passengers, explosives, live stock, etc., on vessels of the American Merchant Marine are as follows:
- Accommodations.
- Light and air.
- Provisions.
- Medical attendance.
- Discipline and cleanliness.
- Privacy of passengers.
- Explosives; cattle.
- Boarding vessel; passenger list.
- Death of passenger.
- Inspection.
- Penalties.