Hong Kong Regulations

MERCHANT SHIPPING (SEAFARERS) (CREW ACCOMMODATION) REGULATION - SECT 21

Sleeping rooms

(1) Unless the circumstances are such that no members of the crew are required
to sleep on board, sleeping rooms shall be provided for the crew.

(2) Each of the following groups of seafarers shall be provided with sleeping
rooms separate from those provided for the other groups-

   (a)  officers;

   (b)  petty officers;

   (c)  cadets;

   (d)  ratings of the deck department other than petty officers;

   (e)  ratings of the engine room department other than petty officers; and

   (f)  ratings of the catering department other than petty officers: Provided
        that in relation to ships in which general purpose ratings are
        employed, paragraphs (d) and (e) shall not apply and ratings of those
        2 groups shall be counted as one group.

(3) The maximum number of seafarers accommodated in sleeping rooms shall be as
follows-

   (a)  officers: one per room;

   (b)  cadets: whenever practicable, one per room, but not more than 2 per
        room;

   (c)  petty officers: whenever practicable, one per room, but not more than
        2 per room;

   (d)  other ratings:

        (i)    in ships other than passenger ships, whenever practicable, one
               per room but not more than 2 per room; and

        (ii)   (No provision)

        (iii)  in passenger ships, not more than 4 per room: Provided that
               when more than one seafarer is accommodated in a sleeping room
               they shall be members of the same watch. An individual sleeping
               room shall be provided for each adult member of the crew, where
               the size of the ship, the activity in which it is to be engaged
               and its layout make this practicable.

(4) In ships other than passenger ships-

   (a)  the minimum floor area provided for a single berth sleeping room for
        ratings shall be as follows-

        (i)    in ships of under 3000 tons, 3.75 square metres;

        (ii)   in ships of 3000 tons or over but under 10000 tons, 4.25 square
               metres; and

        (iii)  in ships of 10000 tons or over, 4.75 square metres; and

   (b)  the minimum floor area provided per seafarer in a 2 berth sleeping
        room for ratings shall be as follows-

        (i)    in ships of under 3000 tons, 2.75 square metres;

        (ii)   in ships of 3000 tons or over but less than 10000 tons, 3.25
               square metres; and

        (iii)  in ships of 10000 tons or over, 3.75 square metres.

(5) In passenger ships-

   (a)  the minimum floor area provided in a single berth sleeping room for
        ratings shall be 3.75 square metres; and

   (b)  (No provision)

   (c)  the minimum floor area provided per seafarer in a 2, 3 or 4 berth
        sleeping room for ratings shall be as follows-

        (i)    in ships of under 3000 tons, 2.35 square metres; and

        (ii)   in ships of 3000 tons or over, 3.00 square metres.

(6) Where practicable, in ships of 3000 tons or over, a day room adjoining his
sleeping room shall be provided for-

   (a)  the Chief Officer; and

   (b)  the Chief Engineer.

   (c)  and (d) (No provisions)

(7) In sleeping rooms for officers and cadets for whom no separate day room is
provided the minimum floor area provided shall be as follows-

   (a)  in the case of a sleeping room where 2 cadets are accommodated-

        (i)    in ships of under 3000 tons, 10.00 square metres; and

        (ii)   in ships of 3000 tons or over, 12.00 square metres; and

   (b)  in any other case-

        (i)    in ships of under 3000 tons, 6.50 square metres; and

        (ii)   in ships of 3000 tons or over, 7.50 square metres.

(8) In sleeping rooms for officers and cadets for whom a separate day room is
provided the minimum floor area shall be-

   (a)  in the case of a sleeping room where 2 cadets are accommodated, the
        minimum floor area required for ratings in subsection (4)(b); and

   (b)  in any other case, the minimum floor area required for ratings in
        subsection (4)(a).

(9) In determining the floor area of a room for the purpose of this section,
spaces occupied by berths, lockers, seats or chests of drawers and other
furniture shall be included in the measurement of the floor 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 so included.

(10) The sleeping room of the First or only Radio Officer shall be situated as
near as practicable to the radio room. (Enacted 1995)