Hong Kong Regulations

MERCHANT SHIPPING (SEAFARERS) (CREW ACCOMMODATION) REGULATION - SECT 28

Sanitary accommodation

(1) The following private and semi-private bathrooms shall be provided for
officers-

   (a)  in ships of 5000 tons or over but less than 15000 tons at least 5
        officers' sleeping rooms shall be provided with adjoining private 
        bathrooms for the use of the officers occupying those sleeping rooms;

   (b)  in ships of 15000 tons or over every officer's sleeping room shall be
        provided with an adjoining private bathroom for the use of the officer
        occupying that sleeping room; and

   (c)  in addition, in ships of 10000 tons or over but less than 15000 tons,
        every officer's sleeping room which is not provided with an adjoining
        private bathroom shall have a semi-private bathroom appropriated to
        it; that bathroom shall comply with the requirements of subsection (3)
        as regards semi-private bathrooms for officers.

(2) In ships of 25000 tons or over, other than passenger ships, every rating's
sleeping room which is not provided with a private bathroom shall have a
semi-private bathroom appropriated to it. These semi-private  bathrooms shall
not be shared by petty officers and other ratings.

(3) Every semi-private bathroom shall be situated either in an
inter-communicating compartment between the sleeping rooms of the 2 seafarers
for whose use it is appropriated or if the bathroom is for ratings it may be
situated opposite or approximately opposite the entrance or entrances to their
sleeping room or rooms.

(4) (a) Every semi-private bathroom shall be fitted with a bath or shower, a
water closet pedestal and other items specified in subsection (24) and, unless
a washbasin is provided in each sleeping room for which the bathroom is
appropriated, with a washbasin.

   (b)  Every private bathroom shall be fitted with a bath or shower, a water
        closet pedestal, a washbasin and other items specified in subsection

(24).

(5) Sanitary accommodation shall be provided for the use of those members of
the crew for whom no private or semi-private sanitary accommodation is
provided; the accommodation provided shall consist of separate accommodation
for each of the following groups-

   (a)  officers and cadets;

   (b)  ratings; and

   (c)  female staff.

(6) The following equipment shall be provided in the sanitary accommodation
pursuant to subsection (5), for each group- for every group of 6 seafarers or
fewer, one bath or shower, one washbasin, one mirror suitable for toilet
purposes and one water closet: Provided that, in determining the quantity of
equipment to be provided pursuant to this subsection, no account shall be
taken of any equipment provided in sanitary accommodation in a permanent
hospital.

(7) The minimum number of water closets provided in ships of-

   (a)  500 tons or over but under 800 tons, shall be 3;

   (b)  800 tons or over but under 3000 tons, shall be 4; and

   (c)  3000 tons or over, shall be 6, and water closets additional to those
        required by subsections (1) to (6) shall be provided where necessary
        to make up the number. The water closets provided pursuant to
        subsection (26) may be taken into account for the purpose of
        determining these numbers.

(8) Sanitary accommodation provided pursuant to subsection (5) shall be
situated close to the sleeping rooms of the seafarers for whose use it is
provided.

(9) Baths and showers provided for one group of seafarers shall be situated in
or adjacent to a room containing the washbasins provided for that group.

(10) Access to sanitary accommodation provided pursuant to subsection (5)
shall where reasonably practicable be from a passageway and shall not be from
a mess room or sleeping room, except where sanitary accommodation is provided
for the exclusive use of the occupants of not more than 2 sleeping rooms
accommodating not more than 4 seafarers in all, where access to it may be
directly from those sleeping rooms.

(11) Every washbasin, bath and shower tray shall be made of a suitable
material with a smooth and impervious surface not likely to crack, flake or
corrode. Every washbasin, bath and shower tray shall be fitted with an
efficient and hygienic discharge system and in particular the waste-pipe shall
be fitted in a way which will minimize the risk of obstruction and facilitate
cleaning.

(12) Every washbasin, bath and shower shall be of a suitable size.

(13) and (14) (No provisions)

(15) Screening to ensure privacy shall be provided for any bath or shower
which is in the same room as any washbasin or other bath or shower unless the
room is a private or semi-private bathroom. The screening shall be made of a
robust and opaque material and shall be rigid on at least 3 sides of every
bath or shower. Wherever reasonably practicable the space screened shall be
large enough for a seafarer to undress in it in comfort.

(16) Every bath and shower shall be provided with a handrail, grating or mat.
Except in private or semi-private bathrooms, the showers shall be provided
with kerbs and individual drainage.

(17) Hot and cold fresh water shall be laid on to all washbasins, baths and
showers. The hot water shall be at a constant temperature of at least 66
degrees Celsius and shall be heated by thermostatically controlled calorifiers
of adequate capacity or by some equally safe and efficient means. Every shower
shall be provided with an anti-scalding mixing valve which shall be set in
such a way that the temperature of the shower water can be varied by the
seafarer using it to any temperature between the ambient temperature and a
temperature of at least-

   (a)  in the case of a thermostatically controlled mixing valve, 38 degrees
        Celsius but not more than 43 degrees Celsius; and

   (b)  in the case of any other mixing valve, 35 degrees Celsius but not more
        than 40 degrees Celsius.

(18) If there is an access to a water closet from an open deck, such access
being additional to that required by section 11(2), the access to it shall, if
practicable, be screened so as to ensure privacy.

(19) If access to a water closet is from a passageway, other than a passageway
leading only to water closets, a lobby shall where practicable be provided at
the entrance to the water closet or, if that is not practicable, the water
closet shall be provided with a self-closing door which is close-fitting and
has no apertures: Provided that these requirements need not be complied with
where adequate mechanical exhaust ventilation arrangements are provided in
those spaces.

(20) Subject to subsections (21) and (22), every water closet pedestal shall
be fitted in a closet separated from all other parts of the crew accommodation
by bulkheads which comply with the requirements of section 8(1) and (2).

(21) A water closet need not be separated by bulkheads complying with the
requirements of section 8(1) and (2) from-

   (a)  another water closet;

   (b)  a urinal; or

   (c)  if the water closet is served by a trunked mechanical exhaust
        ventilation system which effectively removes the odours from it,
        washing accommodation, if it is separated from that other water
        closet, urinal or washing accommodation by a partition made of steel
        or other suitable material and open at the top and bottom.

(22) Subsections (20) and (21) need not be complied with in respect of
partitioning of a water closet pedestal in a private or semi-private 
bathroom.

(23) Every water closet shall be provided with exhaust ventilation direct to
the open air or to another water closet which is itself ventilated directly to
the open air.

(24) Every water closet shall be provided with the following-

   (a)  (i) a water closet pedestal of a single type with a pan of white
        vitreous china or other suitable material;

        (ii)   a hinged seat of a suitable hard smooth impervious material;

        (iii)  a trap with a metal inspection plate; and

        (iv)   an efficient ventilator connected to the outlet;

   (b)  an adequate flush of water which shall always be available and
        supplied through self-closing non-concussive supply valves with a
        portable seating of metal which is not likely to become corroded;

   (c)  a connection to an approved vacuum discharge pipe system or a soil
        pipe of not less than 100 millimetres internal diameter, so
        constructed as to facilitate cleaning and minimize the risk of
        obstruction; the pipe shall be adequately ventilated and shall have a
        direct overboard outfall fitted with a storm valve unless it is
        connected by an efficient and hygienic system to a collecting tank or
        sewage plant;

   (d)  a device for holding toilet paper; and

   (e)  a hand rail or grip.

(25) Where the water closets specified in subsection (24) would be unsuitable
for use by some members of the crew because of their distinctive national
habits and customs then those water closets may be suitably adapted or other
suitable closets shall be provided for those members of the crew, provided
that the sanitary accommodation is equal or comparable to the standard
otherwise required by this section.

(26) In ships of 1600 tons or over, the following additional sanitary
accommodation shall be provided-

   (a)  a separate room containing a water closet and a washbasin easily
        accessible from the navigating bridge for the use of those working in
        that area;

   (b)  a separate room containing a water closet and a washbasin within or
        near to the engine room control compartment or, in ships not fitted
        with such a compartment, within easy access of the propelling
        machinery space;

   (c)  a separate room containing a water closet and a washbasin easily
        accessible from the galley for the use of those working in that area;
        and

   (d)  except in ships in which single berth sleeping rooms and private or
        semi-private bathrooms are provided for the use of all engine room
        personnel, washing accommodation fitted with showers, washbasins and
        mirrors sufficient in number having regard to the number of such
        personnel not provided with single berth sleeping rooms and private or
        semi-private  bathrooms and situated in a place outside but
        conveniently close to the propelling machinery space.

(27) Unless other adequate means of washing down the accommodation are
provided, a salt water tap with a suitable hose connection shall be fitted in
sanitary accommodation, other than private or semi-private  bathrooms.
(Enacted 1995)