Regulation 6

The location, means of access, structure and arrangement in relation to other spaces of crew accommodation shall be such as to ensure adequate security, protection against weather and sea, and insulation from heat or cold, or undue noise or effluvia from other spaces and for new MLC ships shall further be in accordance with the requirements of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act 2014 and shall be guided by any code of practice issued or approved under section 44 of that Act.

In a new MLC ship, the materials used to construct internal bulkheads, panelling and sheeting, floors and joints shall be suitable and conducive to ensuring a healthy environment for the seafarers.

There shall be no direct openings into sleeping rooms from spaces for cargo and machinery or from galleys, lamp and paint rooms, or from engine, deck and other bulk storerooms, drying rooms, communal wash places or water closets. That part of the bulkhead separating such places from sleeping rooms and external bulkheads shall be efficiently constructed of steel or other approved material and shall be watertight and gastight.

External bulkheads of sleeping rooms and mess rooms shall be adequately insulated. All machinery casings and all boundary bulkheads of galleys and other spaces in which heat is produced shall be adequately insulated where there is a possibility of resulting heat effects in adjoining accommodation or passageways. Care shall also be taken to provide protection from heat effects of steam and/or hot water service pipes.

Internal bulkheads shall be of approved material which is not likely to harbour vermin.

Sleeping rooms, mess rooms, recreation rooms and alley-ways in the crew accommodation space shall be adequately insulated to prevent condensation or overheating.

Main steam and exhaust pipes for winches and similar gear shall not pass through crew accommodation nor, whenever technically possible, through alley-ways leading to crew accommodation; where they do pass through such alley-ways they shall be adequately insulated and encased.

Inside panelling or sheeting shall be of material with a surface easily kept clean. Tongued and grooved boarding or any other form of construction likely to harbour vermin shall not be used.

The construction of the accommodation shall comply with the relevant provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Regulations (Rg 11) (as amended from time to time) as regards the fire-prevention or fire-retarding measures.

The wall surface and deckheads in sleeping rooms and mess rooms shall be made of a material with a surface easily kept clean and, if painted, shall be light in colour. Lime wash must not be used.

The wall surfaces shall be renewed or restored as necessary.

The decks in all crew accommodation shall be of approved material and construction and shall provide a surface impervious to damp and easily kept clean and which in a new MLC ship shall be a non-slip surface.

Where the floorings are of composition, the joinings with sides shall be rounded to avoid crevices.

Sufficient drainage shall be provided.