SECTION II. MEASURES TO BE TAKEN BEFORE DEPARTURE
Art. 107. At least three days before departure the captain, or in the absence of the captain the owner or agent, of every pilgrim ship must declare his intention to embark pilgrims to the competent authority of the port of departure. In ports of call the captain, or in the absence of the captain the owner or agent, of every pilgrim ship must make this same declaration twelve hours before the departure of the vessel. This declaration must indicate the intended day of sailing and the destination of the vessel.
Art. 108. Upon the declaration prescribed by the preceding article being made, the competent authority shall proceed to the inspection and measurement of the vessel at the expense of the captain. The consular officer of the country to which the vessel belongs may be present at this inspection.
The inspection only shall be made if the captain is already provided with a certificate of measurement issued by the competent authority of his country, unless it is suspected that the document no longer corresponds to the actual state of the vessel.[1]
Art. 109. The competent authority shall not permit the departure of a pilgrim ship until he has ascertained:
a) That the vessel has been put in a state of perfect cleanliness and, if necessary, disinfected.
b) That the vessel is in a condition to undertake the voyage without danger; that it is properly equipped, arranged, and ventilated; that it is provided with an adequate number of small boats; that it contains nothing on board which is or might become detrimental to the health or safety of the passengers, and that the deck is of wood or of iron covered over with wood.
c) That, in addition to the provisions for the crew, there are provisions and fuel of good quality on board, suitably stored and in sufficient quantity for all the pilgrims and for the entire anticipated duration of the voyage.
d) That the drinking water taken on board is of good quality and from a source protected against all contamination; that there is a sufficient quantity thereof; that the tanks of drinking water on board are protected against all contamination and closed in such a way that the water can only be let out through the stop cocks or pumps. The devices for letting water out called "suckers" are absolutely forbidden.
e) That the vessel has a distilling apparatus capable of producing at least 5 liters of water per head each day for every person embarked, including the crew.
f) That the vessel has a disinfecting chamber whose safety and efficiency
- ↑ The competent authority is at present: In British India, an officer designated for this purpose by the local government (Native Passenger Ships Act 1887, Art. 7); in Dutch India, the master of the port; in Turkey, the health authority; in Austria-Hungary, the authority of the port; in Italy, the captain of the port; in France, Tunis, and Spain, the health authority; in Egypt, the quarantine and health authority, etc. [Footnote in original.]
