An Act to Amend Section Three of Act Numbered Seven Hundred and Eighty, Entitled "An Act Providing for the Examination and Licensing of Applicants for the Positions Of Master, Mate, Patron, and Engineer of Seagoing Vessels in the Philippine Coastwise Trade, and Prescribing the Number of Engineers to be Employed by such Vessels."

August 7, 1906

ACT NO. 1522

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION THREE OF ACT NUMBERED SEVEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY, ENTITLED "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE EXAMINATION AND LICENSING OF APPLICANTS FOR THE POSITIONS OF MASTER, MATE, PATRON, AND ENGINEER OF SEAGOING VESSELS IN THE PHILIPPINE COASTWISE TRADE, AND PRESCRIBING THE NUMBER OF ENGINEERS TO BE EMPLOYED BY SUCH VESSELS."

SECTION 1. Section three of Act Numbered Seven hundred and eighty, entitled "An Act providing for the examination and licensing of applicants for the positions of master, mate, patron, and engineer of seagoing vessels in the Philippine coastwise trade, and prescribing the number of engineers to be employed by such vessels," is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 3. The Board shall meet at the office of the Insular Collector of Customs at Manila during the last week of each month of the year and examine all applicants for any such positions who have filed in writing their applications for examination at least one month before the meeting of the Board.

"Every applicant shall be examined physically by a competent physician selected by the Board, and, unless found to be physically sound, shall not be further examined and shall not be licensed.

"The Board may, in its discretion, require the production of ship's journals and log books for inspection in the examination of applicants.

"Every applicant for license as master must produce to the Board evidence satisfactory to it, showing that he has served as certified first mate for at least two years in a seagoing vessel.

"Every applicant for license as first mate must produce to the Board evidence satisfactory to it, showing that he has served in the capacity of certified second mate for at least one year in a seagoing vessel, or, first showing that he has second mate's license for one year, that he has served as certified third mate at least three years in a seagoing vessel.

"Every applicant for license as second mate must produce to the Board evidence satisfactory to it, showing that he has served in the capacity of certified third mate in a seagoing vessel for at least one year.

"Every applicant for the position of third mate shall be required to present to the Board documents properly certified showing that he has served as seaman, apprentice, or quartermaster continuously for at least nine months in a seagoing sailing vessel or at least eighteen months in a seagoing steamer: PROVIDED, That, if the applicant produces a certificate of graduation from the Nautical School of Manila, it shall be sufficient evidence of his technical knowledge, but not of his physical condition, experience, habits, or character. The applicant shall not be less than nineteen years of age.

"Every applicant for license as patron shall be examined on the following subjects: Reading and writing; management of the sails and rigging of coasting and pilot boats; manner of loading according to cargo; manner of careening a boat so as to rid it of water, as well as manner of stranding same; knowledge of the coasts where he is to navigate, their shoals, banks, and reefs; of ocean currents and tides; of prevailing winds; which winds to sail with and which to sail away from; how to box the compass; to take bearings by the chart and other practical methods for determining the nearness of the coast and what course is to be taken; methods of entering and leaving the ports of the provinces; precautions to be taken in time of storms at sea as well as in port; method of repairing damage sustained by vessels; familiarity with all existing coast light-houses on their routes; knowledge of all maritime laws relating to the sanitation and police regulations of ports; knowledge of regulations governing the use of lights and signals for the prevention of collisions and, in short, of all subjects that may have a bearing on his calling.

"Every applicant for license as patron shall be at least nineteen years of age.

"Service as patron shall be deemed the equivalent of service as third mate upon application for a second mate's license.

"The Board in examining an applicant for the position of engineer shall diligently inquire into the knowledge of said applicant of the construction and operation of steam machinery and especially of engines and boilers, also as to the applicant's practical experience, character, and habits, and the Board may, in its discretion, make such practical tests and examinations of the applicant as it may deem necessary to demonstrate his fitness or unfitness for the position which he seeks. The Board may also take the statement, written or oral, of any persons cognizant of the qualifications of such applicant.

"Every applicant for license as chief engineer shall be required to produce to the Board evidence satisfactory to it, showing that he has served as licensed first assistant engineer for at least two years in a seagoing steamer.

"Every applicant for license as first assistant engineer shall be required to produce to the Board evidence satisfactory to it, showing that he has served in the capacity of second assistant engineer for at least one year in a seagoing steamer.

"Every applicant for license as second assistant engineer must produce to the Board evidence satisfactory to it, showing that he has served in the capacity of oiler or fireman in a seagoing steamer for at least two years, and he must be at least nineteen years of age.

"Every applicant for license as bay and river engineer must produce to the Board evidence satisfactory to it, showing that he has served at least two years as fireman on steam launches or other steam vessels, and he must be at least eighteen years of age. Every person holding a license as bay and river engineer, who has served at least one year on such license shall be eligible for examination for second assistant engineer of seagoing vessels."

SECTION 2. The public good requiring the speedy enactment of this bill, the passage of the same is hereby expedited in accordance with section two of "An Act prescribing the order of procedure by the Commission in the enactment of laws," passed September twenty-sixth, nineteen hundred.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on its passage.

ENACTED, August 7, 1906.