Chapter 21A - Accommodation and Recreational Facilities Vessels of Less than 200GT

21A.1 General

(1) Vessels of less than 200GT that do not trade internationally are excepted from the requirements of this section and shall comply with Chapter 21.

(2) Accommodation shall provide decent living conditions and recreational facilities for those persons employed or engaged in any work capacity onboard. Due consideration shall be given to likely numbers of hotel and support staff onboard.

(3) In order to provide decent living conditions and recreational facilities the following requirements are provided as minimum standards.

(4) The materials used to construct internal bulkheads, panelling and sheeting, floors and joinings shall be suitable for the purpose and conducive to ensuring a healthy environment.

(5) Excessive noise and vibration shall be limited within accommodation spaces, and as far as practicable in accordance with relevant international standards. Where the seafarers’ exposure to noise and vibration is very time limited in accommodation spaces, alternative arrangements may be accepted.

21A.2 Access/Escape Arrangements

(1) Refer to Section 14A.3 for details.

21A.3 Headroom

(1) There shall be adequate and reasonable headroom for all seafarers onboard taking into consideration the size and operation of vessel. Headroom provided shall not result in discomfort to the seafarers onboard.

(2) For spaces where seafarers are expected to stand for prolonged periods, the minimum headroom shall be 190 centimetres. The competent authority may allow reduced height in some locations if it does not result in discomfort to seafarers.

21A.4 Ventilation

(1) Effective means of ventilation shall be provided to all enclosed spaces which are entered by personnel.

(2) Mechanical ventilation shall be provided to all accommodation spaces on vessels which are intended to make long international voyages or operate in tropical waters. As a minimum, mechanical ventilation shall be capable of providing 6 changes of air per hour, when all access and other openings (other than ventilation intakes) to the spaces are closed.

(3) Air conditioning - recirculation of supply air may be permitted provided that sanitary accommodation is provided with mechanical exhaust ventilation and that the fresh air content of the supply to the accommodation is not less than:-

• (a) 25 cubic metres per hour for each person for whom accommodation is provided; or

• (b) the total capacity of the sanitary and any other accommodation exhaust fans, excluding the galley, whichever is the greater.

(4) Enclosed galleys shall be specially considered, and where air conditioning is not fitted shall have, as a minimum, a mechanical supply of 20 fresh air changes per hour and a mechanical exhaust of 30 changes.

(5) In spaces where sanitary facilities are provided there shall be ventilation that draws from the accommodation and extracts to the open air independent of the other parts of the accommodation.

21A.5 Heating and Insulation

(1) All accommodation spaces shall be adequately heated, taking into account climatic conditions. The accommodation shall be adequately insulated.

21A.6 Lighting

(1) An electric lighting system shall be installed which is capable of supplying adequate light to all enclosed accommodation and working spaces. The system shall be designed and installed in accordance with Chapter 8.

(2) Seafarer’s sleeping rooms and mess rooms shall be lit by natural light and provided with adequate artificial light. Where the provision of natural light is impracticable, adequate artificial light may be acceptable in limited areas.

21A.7 Water Services and Provision

(1) Hot and cold running fresh water shall be available in all wash places.

(2) An adequate supply of fresh drinking water shall be provided and piped to convenient positions throughout the accommodation spaces.

(3) In addition, an emergency reserve supply of drinking water shall be carried, sufficient to provide at least 2 litres per person. The installation of fresh water making machines and disinfection arrangements shall be to the acceptance of the Administration (for this purpose silver ionisation or chlorination would be considered acceptable).

21A.8 Galley Facilities and Provision of Food

(1) Adequate food shall be provided for all seafarers onboard free of charge. The provision of food shall take account of the seafarers’ religious requirements and cultural practices, the nature and duration of the voyage, and shall be suitable in respect of quantity, nutritional value, quality and variety.

(2) The organisation and equipment of the catering department shall be such as to permit the provision to the seafarers of adequate, varied and nutritious meals prepared and served in hygienic conditions. This shall include as a minimum that the galley is fitted with a means of cooking and a sink and have adequate working surface for the preparation of food. The galley floor shall be provided with a non-slip surface and provide a good foothold.

(3) All furniture and fittings in the galley shall be made of a material which is impervious to dirt and moisture. All metal parts of furniture and fittings shall be rust resistant.

(4) The ventilation in the galley shall be arranged to ensure that there is an adequate supply of fresh air and for the efficient discharge of fumes into the open air (see also 21A.4(4)).

(5) When a cooking appliance is gimballed it shall be protected by a crash bar or other means to prevent personal injury. Means shall be provided to lock the gimballing mechanism.

(6) Means shall be provided to allow the cook to be secured in position, with both hands free for working, when the vessel motions threaten safe working.

(7) Secure and hygienic storage for food and garbage shall be provided.

(8) A messing area(s) shall be provided, each messing area shall be large enough to accommodate the greatest number of persons likely to use it at any one time.

21A.9 Hand Holds and Grab Rails

(1) There shall be sufficient hand holds and grab rails within the accommodation to allow safe movement around the accommodation at all times. Stairways shall be specially considered.

21A.10 Sleeping Accommodation

(1) Sleeping accommodation shall be of adequate size and properly equipped so as to ensure reasonable comfort and to facilitate tidiness.

(2) There shall be no direct access into sleeping rooms from spaces for machinery, galleys, storerooms, drying rooms, or communal sanitary areas.

(3) In seafarer accommodation, wherever possible, the maximum number of persons per sleeping room shall be two and there shall be unobstructed access to at least one side of each bed. Any increase in the maximum number of persons per sleeping room shall be agreed with the Administration.

(4) Sleeping accommodation shall be situated or equipped, as practicable, so as to provide appropriate levels of privacy for men and for women.

(5) Berths for seafarers shall have a minimum inside dimension of either:

• (a) not less than 190 centimetres by 70 centimetres, with no tapering, where it is satisfied that that this is reasonable and shall not result in discomfort to the seafarers; or

• (b) not less than 198 centimetres in length and not less than 80 centimetres in width over half the length of the berth. A taper is permitted from half the length of the berth towards the foot of the berth but under no circumstances is the berth permitted to be narrower at any point than 50 centimetres.

(6) Where considered appropriate, means for preventing the occupants from falling out, shall be provided.

(7) Sleeping rooms shall be situated above the load line/freeboard mark amidships or aft (or the maximum loaded displacement where no load line/freeboard mark is provided), but in no case forward of the collision bulkhead.

(8) Where it is not possible to provide sleeping accommodation above the load line/freeboard mark (or the maximum loaded displacement where no load line/freeboard mark is provided) as required by 21A.10(7), there shall be an alarm fitted to provide early warning of flooding that alerts occupants of the sleeping accommodation and provides them with sufficient time to escape from the accommodation.

21A.11 Sanitary Facilities

(1) There shall be at least one set of sanitary facilities for each 6 seafarers onboard, separated from the rest of the accommodation. Each set of sanitary facilities shall include one shower or one tub, one wash basin and one toilet. Each set of sanitary facilities shall be provided with a door that is lockable. Where reasonable and practicable there shall be separate sanitary facilities provided for men and for women.

(2) In vessels where a sanitary system, including a holding tank, is provided, care shall be taken to ensure that there is no possibility of fumes from the tank finding their way back to a toilet, should the water seal at the toilet be broken.

21A.12 Mess Rooms

(1) Mess rooms shall be of adequate size and comfort and properly furnished and equipped (including ongoing facilities for refreshment), taking account of the number of seafarers likely to use them at any one time. It may be that the mess shall be a shared facility for seafarers and passengers; this shall be subject to agreement by the Administration.

21A.13 Recreational Facilities

(1) Appropriate seafarers’ recreational facilities, amenities and services, as adapted to meet the special needs of seafarers who shall live and work onboard, shall be provided.

(2) All vessels shall have a space or spaces on open deck to which the seafarers can have safe access when off duty, which are of adequate area having regard to the size of the ship and the number of seafarers onboard, and are protected from the elements. Due consideration shall be given to any areas of deck which may be considered as posing a safety risk to seafarers. Such spaces may be shared with the passengers onboard.

21A.14 Stowage Facilities for Personal Effects

(1) Each seafarer shall be provided with adequate storage space for personal effects which shall be a minimum of 125 litres per seafarer.

21A.15 Machinery Space Boundaries

(1) Where machinery spaces are adjacent to accommodation spaces, the boundaries shall be designed to be gas tight. The requirement to be gas-tight is taken to mean that bulkheads shall be so constructed as to prevent ingress of water and noxious gases into adjacent cabins as far as is reasonable and practicable to do so.

(2) Machinery space boundaries shall retain any liquids which may leak from the equipment within the machinery space.

21A.16 Securing of Heavy Equipment

(1) All heavy items of equipment such as ballast, batteries, cooking stove, etc, shall be securely fastened in place. All stowage lockers containing heavy items shall have lids or doors which are capable of being securely fastened.

21A.17 Protection from Mosquitoes

(1) Vessels regularly trading to and within mosquito infested ports shall be fitted with appropriate devices to protect seafarers from mosquitos, as agreed by the Administration

21A.18 Master’s Inspections

(1) There shall be weekly documented inspections carried out onboard vessels, by or under the authority of the Master, with respect to:

• (a) supplies of food and drinking water;

• (b) all spaces and equipment used for the storage and handling of food and drinking water;

• (c) galley and other equipment used for the preparation and service of meals; and

• (d) that seafarer accommodation is clean, decently habitable and maintained in a good state of repair.

(2) The results of each inspection shall be recorded and made available for review.