21 ACCOMMODATION
21.1 General
21.1.1 An adequate standard of accommodation should be provided to ensure the comfort, recreation, health and safety of all persons on board.
21.1.2 Attention is drawn to the achievement of appropriate standards for means of access and escape, lighting, heating, food preparation and storage, messing, safety of movement about the vessel, ventilation and water services.
21.1.3 Generally, accommodation standards for the crew should be at least equivalent to the standards set by the International Labour Organisation conventions for crew accommodation in merchant ships. The ILO Convention provisions should be practicable with regard to vessels greater than 500 gt For smaller vessels, particularly sailing ships, the standards should be applied where possible When it is neither reasonable nor practicable to site crew sleeping accommodation amidships or aft and above the deepest waterline as required, measures taken to ensure an equivalent level of crew health and safety should be agreed with the Administration. Sleeping accommodation with the deck head lining below the deepest waterline is not permitted. It is recommended that where such accommodation is sited partially below the deepest waterline it should be arranged such that in the event of damage to the watertight compartment in which the accommodation space is situated, the lining should not be immersed.
21.1.5 Crew accommodation should not be sited within hazardous spaces.
The following standards are described by general principles which need to be expanded to meet the requirements which relate to the use and areas of operation of particular vessels.
21.2 Access/Escape Arrangements
See 14A.4 and 14B.3.6.
21.3 Lighting
An electric lighting system should be installed which is capable of supplying adequate light to all enclosed accommodation and working spaces. The system should be designed and installed in accordance with section 8.
21.4 Heating
As considered appropriate, an adequate heating installation should be provided.
21.5 Food Preparation, Storage and Messing
The galley floor should be provided with a non-slip surface and provide a good foothold .
All furniture and fittings in the Galley shall be made of a material which is impervious to dirt and moisture. All metal parts of furniture and fittings shall be rust resistant.
The ventilation in the galley shall be so arranged as to ensure an adequate supply of fresh air and the efficient discharge of fumes into the open air (see also 21.7) .
When a cooking appliance is gimballed it should be protected by a crash bar or other means to prevent personal injury. Means should be provided to lock the gimballing mechanism.
Means should be provided to allow the cook 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 should be provided.
A messing area(s) should be provided, each messing area shall be large enough to accommodate the greatest number of persons likely to use it at any one time.
21.6 Hand Holds and Grab Rails
There should be sufficient hand holds and grab rails within the accommodation to allow safe movement around the accommodation at all times. Stairways should be specially considered
21.7 Ventilation
Effective means of ventilation should be provided to all enclosed spaces which are entered by personnel.
Mechanical ventilation should 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 should 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.
Air conditioning systems are to provide a minimum of 25m 3 of air per hour, per person accommodated in the ventilated space during normal operating conditions.
Enclosed galleys are to be specially considered, and where air conditioning is not fitted should have, as a minimum, a mechanical supply of 20 fresh air changes per hour and a mechanical exhaust of 30 changes .
21.8 Water Services
An adequate supply of fresh drinking water should be provided and piped to convenient positions throughout the accommodation spaces.
In addition, an emergency reserve supply of drinking water should be carried, sufficient to provide at least 2 litres per person. The installation of Fresh Water making machines and disinfection arrangements are to be to the acceptance of the Administration. (For the purposes of this silver ionisation or chlorination would be considered acceptable.)
21.9 Sleeping Accommodation
An appropriately sized bed (bunk or cot) should be provided for every person on board, with due regard for the guidance produced by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Where considered appropriate, means for preventing the occupants from falling out, should be provided.
There shall be no direct access into sleeping rooms from spaces for machinery, galleys, paint rooms or from engine, deck, and other bulk storerooms, drying rooms, communal wash places or water closets.
In crew accommodation, wherever possible, the maximum number of persons per sleeping room is to be two and there should be unobstructed access to at least one side of each bed. Any increase in the maximum number of persons per sleeping room should be agreed with the Administration
21.10 Toilet Facilities
Adequate sanitary toilet facilities should be provided on board. The facilities should be at least one water closet, one shower for every 8 persons or part thereof, and one wash basin for every 6 persons or part thereof.
In vessels where a sanitary system, including a holding tank, are provided, care should be taken to ensure that there is no possibility of fumes from the tank finding their way back to a toilet, should the water seal at the toilet be broken.
21.11 Stowage Facilities for Personal Effects
Adequate stowage facilities for clothing and personal effects should be provided for every person on board.
21.12 Securing of Heavy Equipment
All heavy items of equipment such as ballast, batteries, cooking stove, etc, should be securely fastened in place. All stowage lockers containing heavy items should have lids or doors which are capable of being securely fastened.