Chapter 21B - Accommodation and Recreational Facilities Vessels of 200GT and Over

Objective: The purpose of this Chapter is to implement substantially equivalent arrangements to the seafarer accommodation requirements of the MLC. There are alternative arrangements for vessels of traditional design and vessels under 200GT which do not trade internationally. The aim of the Convention is to provide a comprehensive set of global maritime labour standards for all seafarers, including accommodation standards.

21B.1 Introduction

(1) This Chapter applies to vessels of 200GT and above, the keel of which was laid or was at a similar stage of construction, on or after the date of entry into force of the MLC.

(2) When agreed with the Administration, vessels which are of traditional build and are true replicas of traditionally designed yachts, which includes wooden yachts, ‘J Class’ yachts and other yachts of similar design where their traditional character is incompatible with the detailed accommodation requirements, particularly with regard to cabin size, are excepted from the requirements of this section and shall comply with Chapter 21.

21B.2 General

(1) Accommodation shall provide decent living conditions and recreational facilities for all seafarers onboard the vessel. Due consideration shall be given to likely numbers of hotel and support staff onboard

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

(3) 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. All relevant health and safety standards shall be observed.

(4) The accommodation shall be adequately insulated; proper lighting and sufficient drainage shall be provided.

(5) There shall be no direct openings into sleeping rooms from machinery spaces, galleys, storerooms, drying rooms or communal sanitary areas. That part of a bulkhead separating such places from sleeping rooms and external bulkheads shall be efficiently constructed of steel or other approved material and be watertight and gas-tight. The requirement to be watertight and gas-tight is taken to mean that bulkheads shall be so constructed as to prevent ingress of water, cooking smells, and noxious gases into adjacent cabins.

21B.3 Headroom

(1) There shall be adequate headroom in all seafarer accommodation. The minimum permitted headroom in all seafarer accommodation where full and free movement is necessary shall be not less than 203 centimetres. Some limited reduction in headroom in any space, or part of any space, in such accommodation may be permitted, provided this is reasonable and does not result in discomfort to the seafarer and is agreed with the Administration.

(2) For other 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

21B.4 Access/Escape arrangements

(1) See Sections 14A.3 and 14B.2(12) for details.

21B.5 Lighting

(1) 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.

21B.6 Heating

(1) Adequate heat through an appropriate heating system shall be provided, except in vessels exclusively operating in tropical climates.

21B.7 Ventilation

(1) Sleeping rooms and mess rooms shall be adequately ventilated. Vessels, except those regularly operating in areas where temperate climatic conditions do not require this, shall be equipped with air conditioning for seafarer accommodation, for any separate radio room and for any centralised machinery control room. All sanitary spaces shall have ventilation that draws from the accommodation and extracts to the open air, independently of any other part of the accommodation.

(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.

21B.8 Sleeping Accommodation

(1) General:

(a) The sleeping accommodation shall meet 21B.8(2) (the requirements for sleeping accommodation of the MLC for vessels up to 3000GT).
(b) Where this is not practicable to meet 21B.8(2) the sleeping accommodation shall meet the substantially equivalent requirements of:
- (i) 21B.8(3) for vessels of 200GT and over and less than 500GT;
- (ii) 21B.8(4) for vessels of 500GT and over and less than 1250GT;
- (iii) 21B.8(5) for vessels of 3000GT and over and less than 5000GT:
(c) For vessels of 5000 GT and more, Section 21B.8(6) shall be met
(d) Sleeping accommodation shall be of adequate size and properly equipped so as to ensure reasonable comfort and to facilitate tidiness.

(2) Sleeping Accommodation For Vessels Up To 3000GT:

(a) Sleeping rooms shall be situated above the deepest waterline amidships or aft. Where this is impractical, sleeping rooms may be located in the fore part of the vessel, but in no case forward of the collision bulkhead nor immediately beneath working alleyways^footnote.
(b) When it is neither reasonable nor practicable to site seafarer sleeping accommodation amidships or aft, and above the deepest waterline as required, measures taken to ensure an equivalent level of seafarer health and safety shall be agreed with the Administration. Where the sole of the sleeping accommodation is below the deepest waterline amidships, a bilge flooding alarm shall be provided in the sleeping accommodation to provide early warning of flooding to that compartment. Sleeping accommodation with the deck head lining below the deepest intact waterline is not permitted. In addition, for vessels other than short range yachts, where such accommodation is sited partially below the deepest waterline it shall be arranged such that in the event of damage to the watertight compartment in which the accommodation space is situated, the deck head lining shall not be immersed. Satisfactory arrangements shall be made for lighting and ventilation.
(c) Separate sleeping rooms shall be provided for men and for women.
(d) A separate berth for each seafarer shall in all circumstances be provided. The minimum inside dimensions of a berth shall not be 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.
(e) The master, the chief engineer and the chief navigating officer shall have, in addition to their sleeping rooms, an adjoining sitting room, day room or equivalent additional space. Where this not practicable, an alternative comfortable shared sitting area may be provided. Such a space shall allow such officers to meet privately, or to meet with other seafarers privately. The Navigating Bridge, if suitably fitted, may be considered if it is available for this exclusive use when the ship is not engaged in navigation. When the ship is engaged in navigation, the watchkeepers shall not be distracted.
(f) Every seafarer shall be provided with a clothes locker of ample space (minimum 475 litres) and a drawer or equivalent space of not less than 56 litres. If the drawer is incorporated in the clothes locker then the combined minimum volume of the clothes locker shall be 500 litres. The locker shall be fitted with a shelf and be able to be locked by the seafarer so as to ensure security and maintain privacy. Where the total required volume cannot be provided within the cabin, the Administration may consider accepting secure facilities for the individual elsewhere within the seafarer accommodation, provided that within the cabin a minimum of 300 litres storage space is provided for each individual seafarer.
(g) Sleeping rooms shall be provided with a table or desk, which may be of the fixed, drop-leaf or slide-out type or other alternative table, and with comfortable seating accommodation as necessary.
(h) In calculating the floor area of sleeping rooms, spaces occupied by berths, lockers, seats, chests of drawers and other furniture shall be included in the area but spaces which by reason of their small size or irregular shape cannot accommodate furniture and do not contribute to the area available for free movement shall not be included. Where a berth or other fixed furniture is situated at the side of the vessel the projected area (to floor level) of such berths or fixed furniture may be used in the calculation of the sleeping room area.
(i) To the extent possible an individual sleeping room shall be provided for each seafarer, the floor area of which shall not be less than 4.5 square metres. This minimum floor area may include en-suite sanitary facilities where provided.
(j) Where it is not practical to provide single occupancy cabins, sleeping rooms to be occupied by a maximum of two seafarers may be accepted, provided that the floor area of such sleeping rooms is not less than 7 square metres. The floor area may include en suite sanitary facilities, if provided.
(k) The floor area for sleeping rooms for seafarers who are officers on vessels where an adjoining sitting room, day room or equivalent additional space is provided shall not be less than 4.5 square metres per seafarer. This area may include en-suite sanitary facilities. It is not expected that seafarers who are officers shall be required to share a cabin.
(l) The floor area for sleeping rooms for seafarers who are officers on vessels where no adjoining sitting room, day room or equivalent additional space is provided shall not be less than 7.5 square metres per seafarer. This area may include en-suite sanitary facilities. It is not expected that seafarers who are officers shall be required to share a cabin.

(3) Sleeping Accommodation For Vessels Of 200GT And Over And Less Than 500GT:

(a) Sleeping rooms shall be situated above the deepest waterline amidships or aft where practicable. Where this is impractical, sleeping rooms may be located in the fore part of the vessel, but in no case forward of the collision bulkhead nor immediately beneath working alleyways^footnote.
(b) When it is neither reasonable nor practicable to site seafarer sleeping accommodation amidships or aft, and above the deepest waterline as required, measures taken to ensure an equivalent level of seafarer health and safety shall be agreed with the Administration. Where the sole of the sleeping accommodation is below the deepest waterline amidships, a bilge flooding alarm shall be provided in the cabin to provide early warning of flooding to that compartment. Sleeping accommodation with the deck head lining below the deepest intact waterline is not permitted. In addition, for vessels other than short range yachts, where such accommodation is sited partially below the deepest waterline it shall be arranged such that in the event of damage to the watertight compartment in which the accommodation space is situated, the deck head lining shall not be immersed. Satisfactory arrangements shall be made for lighting and ventilation.
(c) Separate sleeping rooms shall be provided for men and for women.
(d) A separate berth for each seafarer shall in all circumstances be provided. The minimum inside dimensions of a berth shall be at least 198 centimetres by 80 centimetres. Narrower berths may be permitted in either (a) sleeping rooms occupied by only one seafarer or (b) sleeping rooms where en-suite sanitary facilities are provided – in such cases the minimum inside dimensions of a berth shall not be 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.
(e) Where practical, the master, the chief engineer and the chief navigating officer shall have, in addition to their sleeping rooms, an adjoining sitting room, day room or equivalent additional space. Where this not practicable, an alternative comfortable shared sitting area may be provided. Such a space shall allow such officers to meet privately, or to meet with other seafarers privately. The Navigating Bridge, if suitably fitted, may be considered if it is available for this exclusive use when the ship is not engaged in navigation. When the ship is engaged in navigation, the watchkeepers shall not be distracted.
(f) Every seafarer shall be provided with a clothes locker of ample space (minimum 475 litres) and a drawer or equivalent space of not less than 56 litres. If the drawer is incorporated in the clothes locker then the combined minimum volume of the clothes locker shall be 500 litres. The locker shall be fitted with a shelf and be able to be locked by the seafarer so as to ensure security and maintain privacy. Where the total required volume cannot be provided within the cabin, the Administration may consider accepting secure facilities for the individual elsewhere within the seafarer accommodation, provided that within the cabin a minimum of 300 litres storage space is provided for each individual seafarer.
(g) Sleeping rooms shall be provided with a table or desk, which may be of the fixed, drop-leaf or slide-out type or other alternative table, and with comfortable seating accommodation as necessary.
(h) Where a single berth seafarer’s cabin without en-suite sanitary facilities is provided it shall have a floor area of not less than 3.6 square metres.
(i) A single berth seafarer’s cabin provided with en-suite sanitary facilities, shall have a floor area of not less than 4.5 square metres. En-suite sanitary facilities are considered to compensate for reduced floor area and form part of the floor area.
(j) Sleeping rooms occupied by two seafarers without en-suite sanitary facilities shall have a floor area of not less than 7 square metres.
(k) A cabin occupied by two seafarers where en-suite sanitary facilities are provided shall have a minimum floor area of 6.2 square metres. En-suite sanitary facilities are considered to compensate for reduced floor area and form part of the floor area.
(l) Where the reduced floor areas in 21B.8(3)(h) to 21B.8(3)(k) are adopted, the free floor area in the sleeping accommodation shall be at least 1.45 square metres per seafarer to provide for sufficient comfortable movement.
(m) Where the requirement of 21B.8(3)(l) is not practical due to the hull shape or hull stiffening, but the arrangements in the cabin allow for a free movement of the upper part of the body equivalent to an area of 1.45 square metres, a reduced free floor area may be provided with the Administration’s agreement, but shall not be less than 1 square metre per seafarer.
(n) Where the requirements of 21B.8.3(m) are accepted by the Administration, the en-suite sanitary facilities shall be large enough to allow for the facilities to be used with the door closed and would not be expected to have a floor area of less than 1.2 square metres. Where the floor area of the en-suite sanitary facilities provided is greater than 1.2 square metres, the free floor area of the cabin may be reduced accordingly, but shall never be less than 1 square metre per seafarer.

(4) Sleeping Accommodation For Vessels Of 500GT And Over And Less Than 1250GT:

(a) Sleeping rooms shall be situated above the deepest waterline amidships or aft where practicable. Where this is impractical, sleeping rooms may be located in the fore part of the vessel, but in no case forward of the collision bulkhead nor immediately beneath working alleyways^footnote.
(b) When it is neither reasonable nor practicable to site seafarer sleeping accommodation amidships or aft, and above the deepest waterline as required, measures taken to ensure an equivalent level of seafarer health and safety shall be agreed with the Administration. Where the sole of the sleeping accommodation is below the deepest waterline amidships, a bilge flooding alarm shall be provided in the cabin to provide early warning of flooding to that compartment. Sleeping accommodation with the deck head lining below the deepest intact waterline is not permitted. In addition, where such accommodation is sited partially below the deepest waterline it shall be arranged such that in the event of damage to the watertight compartment in which the accommodation space is situated, the deck head lining shall not be immersed. Satisfactory arrangements shall be made for lighting and ventilation.
(c) Separate sleeping rooms shall be provided for men and for women.
(d) A separate berth for each seafarer shall in all circumstances be provided. The minimum inside dimensions of a berth shall be at least 198 centimetres by 80 centimetres. Narrower berths may be permitted in either (a) sleeping rooms occupied by only one seafarer or (b) sleeping rooms where en-suite sanitary facilities are provided – in such cases the minimum inside dimensions of a berth shall not be 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.
(e) Where practical, the master, the chief engineer and the chief navigating officer shall have, in addition to their sleeping rooms, an adjoining sitting room, day room or equivalent additional space. If an adjoining sitting room, day room or equivalent additional space is provided the minimum floor area of the cabin shall not be less than 4.5 square metres. If there is no dayroom provided see 21B.8(4)(n).
(f) Every seafarer shall be provided with a clothes locker of ample space (minimum 475 litres) and a drawer or equivalent space of not less than 56 litres. If the drawer is incorporated in the clothes locker then the combined minimum volume of the clothes locker shall be 500 litres. The locker shall be fitted with a shelf and be able to be locked by the seafarer so as to ensure security and maintain privacy. Where the total required volume cannot be provided within the cabin, the Administration may consider accepting secure facilities for the individual elsewhere within the seafarer accommodation, provided that within the cabin a minimum of 300 litres storage space is provided for each individual seafarer.
(g) Sleeping rooms shall be provided with a table or desk, which may be of the fixed, drop-leaf or slide-out type or other alternative table, and with comfortable seating accommodation as necessary.
(h) Where a single berth seafarer’s cabin without en-suite sanitary facilities is provided it shall have a floor area of not less than 3.6 square metres.
(i) A single berth seafarer’s cabin provided with en-suite sanitary facilities, shall have a floor area of not less than 4.5 square metres. En-suite sanitary facilities are considered to compensate for reduced floor area and form part of the floor area.
(j) Sleeping rooms occupied by two seafarers without en-suite sanitary facilities shall have a floor area of not less than 7 square metres.
(k) Single occupancy cabins for seafarers who are officers for whom no adjoining sitting room, day room or equivalent additional space are provided shall be not less than 4.5 square metres for a vessel of 500GT and not less than 7.5 square metres for vessels of 1250GT and over. For a vessel of intermediate gross tonnage, the floor area shall be determined by linear interpolation, as shown in Figure 21B.1 below. En-suite sanitary facilities are considered to compensate for reduced floor area and form part of the floor area.

Figure 21B.1 – Cabin Floor Areas – Single Occupancy
(l) Floor areas of double occupancy cabins with en-suite sanitary facilities for seafarers who are officers for whom no adjoining sitting room, day room or equivalent additional space are provided shall be not less than 6.2 square metres for a vessel of 500GT and not less than 15 square metres for vessels of 1150GT and over. For a vessel of intermediate gross tonnage, the floor area shall be determined by linear interpolation, as shown in Figure 21B.2 below. For seafarers who are not officers, the floor area of a double occupancy cabin with en-suite sanitary facilities shall increase at the same rate as cabins provided for seafarers who are officers until it is 7 square metres.

Figure 21B.2 – Cabin Floor Areas – Double Occupancy
(m) Officer’s cabins with a floor area less than 7.5 square metres shall be provided with televisions and other suitable electronic audio-visual equipment.
(n) Where adjoining sitting rooms, day rooms or other equivalent additional spaces are not provided in accordance with 21B.8(4)(k) an additional space providing a comfortable shared sitting area for such officers shall be provided with a floor area of at least 1.5 square metres per officer. Such a space shall allow the seafarers who are officers to meet privately, or the seafarers who are officers to meet with other seafarers privately. The wheelhouse, if suitably fitted, may be considered if it is available for this exclusive use when the vessel is not engaged in navigation. When the ship is engaged in navigation, the watchkeepers shall not be distracted.

(5) Sleeping accommodation for vessels of 3000GT and over and less than 5000 GT:

(a) Vessels of 3000GT and over and less than 5000GT, constructed on or after the 20th August 2012 shall comply with the full requirements of standard A3.1 of the MLC, except for the following equivalent arrangement to MLC standards, A3.1.8, A3.1.9(a), (b) and (f), and A3.1.11(a) which may be followed:
- (i) All seafarers who are officers shall have their own cabin.
- (ii) No more than two seafarers not performing the duties of officers may be accommodated per cabin, in a twin cabin arrangement.
- (iii) Vessels shall be designed and crewed in such a way that cabins can be allocated by gender – i.e. there shall be no mixed gender cabins. This does not prevent a mixed gender couple voluntarily sharing a cabin in operation. The seafarer cabins shall be designed and shall only be approved as twin cabins, not as double cabins. There shall not be any compulsion in any way whatsoever for seafarers of different genders to share a cabin.
- (iv) There shall be a minimum cabin size for seafarers who are not performing the duties of officers who are provided with a twin cabin. Based on the MLC requirement for vessels of 3000GT or over for 5.5 square metres of floor area per seafarer, the minimum floor area for such a cabin shall be no less than 11 square metres.
- (v) Each seafarer berth in a twin cabin shall be arranged longitudinally, i.e., so that it is a 'fore and aft' bunk. Bunks arranged athwartships shall not be permitted in twin cabins.
- (vi) Each twin cabin shall be provided with en suite sanitary facilities. Each set of en suite sanitary facilities shall meet the minimum requirements set out in the MLC for sanitary facilities, i.e. that they provide a WC, a basin and a shower or a bath tub. The floor area for en suite sanitary facilities may be incorporated within the minimum 11 square metres floor area for each twin cabin.
- (vii) Each cabin shall be lit by natural light and shall be provided with artificial light. There shall be a minimum of one window providing natural light per cabin.

(6) Sleeping Accommodation For Vessels Of 5000 GT or more

(a) Vessels of 5000 GT or more constructed on or after the 20th August 2012 shall comply with the full requirements of standard A3.1 of the MLC.

21B.9 Mess Rooms

(1) Mess rooms shall be located apart from the sleeping rooms to avoid disturbing those persons sleeping and as close as practicable to the galley. Mess rooms shall be of adequate 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. Mess rooms for seafarers who are officers and other seafarers may be separate or common, as appropriate.

(2) Where the substantially equivalent arrangements in Section 21B.8(3) and 21B.8(4) are used, the floor area of mess rooms for seafarers shall not be less than 1.5 square metres per person of the planned seating capacity.

21B.10 Galley Areas, Food Preparation, Storage, 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 to be 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. Air conditioning systems shall provide a minimum of 25 cubic metres of air per hour, per person working in the ventilated space during normal operating conditions. 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 per hour.

(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 person cooking to be secured in position, with both hands free for working, when the vessel motions threaten safe working. Secure and hygienic storage for food and garbage shall be provided.

21B.11 Water Services

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

(2) In addition, an emergency reserve supply of drinking water shall be carried, sufficient to provide at least 2 litres per person the vessel is certificated to carry. 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.

21B.12 Sanitary Facilities

(1) A minimum of one toilet, one wash basin and one tub or shower or both for every six seafarers or less who do not have en-suite sanitary facilities shall be provided at a convenient location.

(2) Separate sanitary facilities shall be provided for men and for women. In respect of sanitary facilities for men and for women, vessels shall be provided with a minimum of 2 sets of sanitary facilities for the first two seafarers onboard plus an additional set of sanitary facilities for every additional 6 seafarers.

(3) Where a sleeping room is provided with en-suite sanitary facilities those facilities shall include a minimum of one toilet, one wash basin and one tub or shower or both.

(4) Where private or semi-private facilities cannot be provided, all seafarers shall have convenient access on the vessel to sanitary facilities meeting minimum standards of health and hygiene and reasonable standards of comfort. Hot and cold running fresh water shall be available in all wash places.

(5) Sanitary facilities within easy access of the wheelhouse, and the machinery space or near the engine room control centre shall be provided where practical.

(6) Every sleeping room shall be provided with a washbasin with hot and cold running fresh water, except where such a washbasin is situated in the en-suite sanitary facilities provided.

21B.13 Hospital accommodation

(1) Vessels carrying 15 or more seafarers and engaged in a voyage of more than three days’ duration shall provide separate hospital accommodation to be used exclusively for medical purposes. This may be a treatment room that also meets the requirements for hospital accommodation. Hospital accommodation shall be designed to facilitate the giving of medical first aid and to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

(2) It is recommended that the arrangement of the entrance, berths, lighting, ventilation, heating and water supply shall be designed to ensure comfort and facilitate the treatment of occupants.

(3) Sanitary facilities shall be provided for the exclusive use of the occupants of the hospital accommodation, either as part of the accommodation or in close proximity thereto. Such sanitary facilities shall comprise a minimum of one toilet, one washbasin and one shower or tub.

(4) Short-range yachts and other vessels that remain within 60 miles of the coast are exempt from 21B.13(1). In cases where such vessels are engaged on voyages of more than three days duration, for example on re-positioning trips, an en-suite cabin shall be designated exclusively for medical purposes. Such a cabin shall be designed to facilitate (when in hospital mode) the giving of medical first aid and to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases and it is recommended that the arrangement of the entrance, berths, lighting, ventilation, heating and water supply shall be designed to ensure comfort and facilitate the treatment of occupants.

(5) To help prevent the spread of infectious diseases and for patient comfort every hospital shall be fitted with mechanical exhaust ventilation independent from any ventilators provided for other parts of the seafarer accommodation.

(6) For black and grey water requirements from hospitals MARPOL requirements shall be followed.

21B.14 Laundry Facilities

(1) Appropriately situated and furnished laundry facilities shall be available.

21B.15 Offices

(1) Separate offices or a common office for use by deck and engineer seafarers shall be provided where practicable.

21B.16 Other Provisions

(1) A space or spaces shall be provided on open deck for the recreation of seafarers to which seafarers can have access when off duty. This shall have a total floor area of 1.5 square metres per person for the greatest number of seafarers likely to use the space at any one time.

(2) 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.

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

21B.17 Master’s Inspections

There shall be weekly documented inspections carried out onboard vessels, by or under (1)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.

21B.18 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.

21B.19 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.

21B.20 Sailing Vessels

(1) The requirements of Chapter 21B apply to sailing vessels in the same way as they do to motor vessels.

(2) Where the sailing vessel is below 1500GT the variations described in 21B.20(3) and 21B.20(4) may be adopted.

(3) On a case by case basis where due to the number of seafarers and passengers on a sailing vessel, it is not possible to meet the equivalent arrangements of 21B.8(3)(m) (minimum of 1 square metre free floor area per seafarers), seafarers shall have no worse accommodation arrangements than the passengers.

(4) Where it is not possible to meet the requirements of 21B.8(4)(n) due to there not being a wheelhouse, an additional space that provides privacy for the seafarers who are officers, such as a spare cabin, may be provided to the satisfaction of the Administration. Such a space shall allow the seafarers who are officers to meet privately, or the seafarers who are officers to meet with other seafarers privately.