Hong Kong Regulations

MERCHANT SHIPPING (SEAFARERS) (CREW ACCOMMODATION) REGULATION - SECT 25

Furniture and fittings in mess rooms

(1) Every mess room shall be provided with sufficient tables to allow a table
space of at least 510 millimetres per seafarer, measured along the edge of a
table, for as many seafarers as are likely to use the room at any one time.

(2) Each table shall be at least 610 millimetres wide if seats are provided on
both sides of the table and at least 380 millimetres wide if seats are
provided only on one side of the table.

(3) One seat per seafarer shall be provided for as many seafarers as are
likely to use the room at any one time. The seats shall consist of a single
chair or, in the case of seats placed directly alongside a bulkhead or the
ship's side, of single chairs or settees. Chairs shall be fitted with arm
rests unless chairs with arm rests are available in a separate recreation room
for the seafarers using the mess room. Settees shall be at least 380
millimetres wide and shall have upholstered or padded seats.

(4) (a) Every mess room provided for seafarers who do not provide their own
food shall be provided with adequate stowage space for mess utensils in a
sideboard, dresser or in separate lockers.

   (b)  Every mess room provided for seafarers who do provide their own food
        shall be fitted with a storage locker for each seafarer likely to use
        the room. Each such storage locker shall be-

        (i)    large enough to contain one seafarer's mess utensils and supply
               of food;

        (ii)   fitted with a secure lock or hasp for a padlock;

        (iii)  so fitted as to be clear of the floor by at least 300
               millimetres; and

        (iv)   adequately ventilated. Lockers provided in pursuance of this
               subsection may be fitted either in the mess room or in a
               suitable place readily accessible from it.

(5) In ships of 500 tons or over the following equipment or its equivalent
shall be fitted in, or a suitable place adjacent to, every mess room and shall
be readily accessible at all times by the crew using the mess room-

   (a)  a dresser or sideboard;

   (b)  a refrigerator;

   (c)  a sink;

   (d)  supply of cold drinking water; and

   (e)  means of heating drinking water for hot beverages.

(6) The equipment referred to in subsection (5) shall be adequate in size for
the number of seafarers using the mess room. (Enacted 1995)