The Men on Deck: Master, Mates and Crew, Their Duties and Responsibilities

by Felix Riesenberg

Third. The expression "lowest passenger deck" means the deck next below the water line; and the expression "passenger deck" includes every deck or portion of a deck which is above the lowest passenger deck, and is appropriated for passengers.

Fourth. A vessel shall not carry passengers, whether cabin or steerage passengers, on more than one deck below the water line.

Fifth. The height between that part of any deck on which steerage passengers are carried and the deck immediately above it shall not be less than six feet.

Sixth. No steerage passengers shall be carried on the lowest passenger deck unless it is efficiently lighted by side scuttles and otherwise to the satisfaction of the inspector.

Seventh. No greater number of steerage passengers shall be carried on the lowest passenger deck than in the proportion of one steerage passenger to every twenty-one clear superficial feet allotted to their use. If, however, the height between the lowest passenger deck and the deck immediately above it is less than seven feet, and the apertures, exclusive of side scuttles, through which light and air are admitted are less in size than in the proportion of three square feet to every one hundred superficial feet of that deck, no greater number of steerage passengers shall be carried on that deck than in the proportion of one steerage passenger to every thirty clear superficial feet thereof, subject to the allowance for measurement of public rooms, lavatories, and bath rooms, if any, provided for by paragraph ten.

Eighth. No greater number of steerage passengers may be carried on a passenger deck than in the proportion of one steerage passenger to every eighteen clear superficial feet of deck allotted to their use, subject to the allowance for measurement of public rooms, lavatories, and bath rooms, if any, provided for by paragraph ten. If, however, the height between any passenger deck and the deck immediately above it be less than seven feet, no greater number of steerage passengers may be carried on that deck than in the proportion of one steerage passenger to every twenty-one clear superficial feet thereof, subject to the allowance for measurement of public rooms, lavatories, and bath rooms, if any, provided for by paragraph ten.

Ninth. A vessel, whatever be the superficial space of the passenger decks and of the lowest passenger deck, shall not carry a greater number of steerage passengers on the whole than in the proportion of one steerage passenger to every five superficial feet of air or promenade space provided on a deck so open as not to be included in the tonnage and approved by the inspector, and this space shall not be counted or included in the area available for any other passengers, or in other areas for steerage passengers prescribed by this section.

Tenth. In the measurement of the passenger decks and of the lowest passenger deck, the space occupied by that part of the personal baggage of the steerage passengers which the inspector permits to be carried there shall be included, and also on whatever deck located, commodious and suitable dining rooms, lounging rooms, smoking rooms, lavatories, toilet rooms, and bath rooms: Provided, That—

(a) The space in any place appropriated to the use of steerage passengers in which they sleep shall not be less than eighteen superficial feet in the case of the lowest passenger deck and fifteen superficial feet in the case of a passenger deck.

(b) Each space so included in the measurement must be clearly marked to the satisfaction of the inspector as being exclusively appropriated for the use of the steerage passengers.