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No. S 184

Merchant Shipping Act

(CHAPTER 179)

Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation)
(Amendment) Regulations 2014

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 100 of the Merchant Shipping Act, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, with the approval of the Minister for Transport, hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 and shall come into operation on 1st April 2014.

Amendment of regulation 2

2. Regulation 2 of the Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations (Rg 29) (referred to in these Regulations as the principal Regulations) is amended —

(a)

by inserting, immediately after the definition of “existing ship”, the following definition:

“ “new MLC ship” means a ship to which the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act 2014 (Act 6 of 2014) applies and of which the keel is laid, or which is at a similar stage of construction, on or after 20th August 2013;”;

(b)

by inserting, immediately after the words “1st December 1997” in the definition of “new ship”, the words “and includes all new MLC ships”;

(c)

by inserting, immediately after the word “Act” in the definition of “officer”, the words “or a seafarer’s employment agreement, as the case may be”;

(d)

by inserting, immediately after the word “Act” in the definition of “petty officer”, the words “or a seafarer’s employment agreement, as the case may be”; and

(e)

by inserting, immediately after the definition of “special limit voyage”, the following definition:

“ “special purpose ship” means a ship constructed in accordance with the Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships adopted by the International Maritime Organization by resolution A 534 (XIII) as amended from time to time;”.

Amendment of regulation 3

3. Regulation 3 of the principal Regulations is amended —

(a)

by deleting sub-paragraph (c) of paragraph (1) and substituting the following sub-paragraph:

“(c)

shall not apply to —

(i)	a ship of less than 500 tons other than a new MLC ship;
(ii)	a ship primarily propelled by sail but having auxiliary engines, other than a new MLC ship;
(iii)	a ship engaged in fishing or similar pursuits;
(iv)	a tug other than a tug that is a new MLC ship; or
(v)	a ship, exclusively engaged on special limit voyages, other than a new MLC ship.”; and

(b)

by deleting paragraphs (2) and (3) and substituting the following paragraphs:

“(2) Regulations 7(5) and 13(4B) and (12) shall not apply to a new MLC ship of less than 200 tons.

(3) The requirements for minimum floor areas in regulation 10(5A), (5C), (5D), (5E) and (5H) shall not apply to a new MLC ship of less than 200 tons.

(4) The Director may exempt any ship from any provision of these Regulations either unconditionally or subject to such conditions as he thinks fit if he is satisfied that —

(a)	compliance with that provision is either impracticable or unreasonable in respect of that ship; and
(b)	the health and safety of crew members on that ship will be protected.”.

Amendment of regulation 5

4. Regulation 5 of the principal Regulations is amended —

(a)

by deleting paragraph (4) and substituting the following paragraph:

“(4) The crew accommodation certificate issued under paragraph (3) —

(a)	to a ship that is not a new MLC ship shall be in Form 1 set out in the Schedule; and
(b)	to a new MLC ship shall be in Form 2 set out in the Schedule.”; and

(b)

by deleting paragraph (6) and substituting the following paragraph:

“(6) The exemption certificate for crew accommodation issued under paragraph (5) —

(a)	to a ship that is not a new MLC ship shall be in Form 3 set out in the Schedule; and
(b)	to a new MLC ship shall be in Form 4 set out in the Schedule.”.

Amendment of regulation 6

5. Regulation 6 of the principal Regulations is amended —

(a)

by inserting, immediately after the words “effluvia from other spaces” in paragraph (1), the words “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”;

(b)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph (1), the following paragraph:

“(1A) 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.”; and

(c)

by inserting, immediately after the word “clean” in paragraph (11), the words “and which in a new MLC ship shall be a non‑slip surface”.

Amendment of regulation 7

6. Regulation 7 of the principal Regulations is amended —

(a)

by inserting, immediately after the word “Ships” in paragraph (3), the words “other than new MLC ships”;

(b)

by inserting, immediately after the words “northern or southern hemispheres, ships” in paragraph (4), the words “other than new MLC ships”; and

(c)

by deleting paragraph (5) and substituting the following paragraphs:

“(5) All new MLC ships, except for ships normally employed in the cold waters of the northern or southern hemispheres, shall be equipped with air-conditioning in all sleeping rooms, separate radio rooms and centralised machinery rooms.

(6) Power for the operation of the aids to the ventilation required by paragraphs (3), (4) and (5) shall, when practicable, be available at all times when the crew is living or working on board and when conditions so require.

(7) Air-conditioning systems provided in all new MLC ships shall be controlled so as to maintain the air in a satisfactory condition and to ensure a sufficiency of air movement in all conditions of weather and climate and shall not produce excessive noise or vibration.”.

Amendment of regulation 8

7. Regulation 8(3) of the principal Regulations is amended by inserting, immediately after the word “electricity”, the words “, except that in new MLC ships heating shall not be by means of steam in any crew accommodation area”.

Amendment of regulation 10

8. Regulation 10 of the principal Regulations is amended —

(a)

by inserting, immediately after the words “passenger ships” in paragraph (3), the words “and new MLC ships which are special purpose ships”;

(b)

by deleting the word “The” in paragraph (4) and substituting the words “In a ship other than a new MLC ship, the”;

(c)

by deleting the words “may be” in paragraph (4) and substituting the words “shall be”;

(d)

by inserting, immediately after the words “In the case of ships” in paragraph (5), the words “other than new MLC ships”;

(e)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph (5), the following paragraphs:

“(5A) In new MLC ships, the floor area of single berth sleeping rooms shall not be less than —

(a)	4.5 m² for a ship of less than 3,000 tons;
(b)	5.5 m²for a ship of 3,000 tons or more but less than 10,000 tons; and
(c)	7 m²for a ship of 10,000 tons or more.

(5B) Where the Director is satisfied that it is necessary in order to provide single berth sleeping rooms on new MLC ships of less than 3,000 tons, or new MLC ships which are passenger ships or special purpose ships, the Director may allow a reduced minimum floor area for single berth sleeping rooms in such ships.

(5C) In the case of a new MLC ship of less than 3,000 tons, other than a passenger ship or special purpose ship, the minimum floor area for double berth sleeping rooms shall be 7 m².

(5D) In a new MLC ship which is a passenger ship or special purpose ship, the floor area of sleeping rooms intended for ratings shall not be less than —

(a)	7.5 m² in a room occupied by 2 persons;
(b)	11.5 m² in a room occupied by 3 persons; and
(c)	14.5 m² in a room occupied by 4 persons.

(5E) In a new MLC ship which is a passenger ship, the floor area of sleeping rooms intended for ratings shall not be less than 3.6 m² per person in a room occupied by more than 4 persons.

(5F) In new MLC ships, the master, chief engineer and chief navigating officer, and when practicable, the second engineer officer, shall be provided with, in addition to their sleeping rooms, an adjoining sitting room, day room or any additional space which may be used for the same purposes.

(5G) The Director may exempt new MLC ships of less than 3,000 tons from paragraph (5F).

(5H) When it is not possible to provide private sitting rooms or day rooms for the master or officers —

(a)

in new MLC ships, other than passenger ships or special purpose ships, the floor area of sleeping rooms intended for the master or officers shall not be less than —

(i)	7.5 m² per person in new MLC ships of less than 3,000 tons;
(ii)	8.5 m² per person in new MLC ships of more than 3,000 tons, but less than 10,000 tons; and
(iii)	10 m² per person in new MLC ships of more than 10,000 tons; and

(b)

in new MLC ships which are passenger ships or special purpose ships, the floor area of sleeping rooms intended for the master or officers shall not be less than —

(i)	7.5 m² per person for junior officers; and
(ii)	8.5 m² per person for senior officers.”;

(f)

by inserting, immediately after the words “crew sleeping rooms” in paragraph (7), the words “of ships other than new MLC ships”;

(g)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph (7), the following paragraph:

“(7A) The clear head room in crew sleeping rooms of new MLC ships shall not be less than 2.03 m.”;

(h)

by inserting, immediately after the words “sleeping rooms” in paragraph (9), the words “of ships other than new MLC ships which are not passenger ships”;

(i)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph (9), the following paragraphs:

“(9A) Subject to paragraph (9B), the number of persons allowed to occupy sleeping rooms of new MLC ships, which are not passenger ships, shall not exceed one person per room.

(9B) The Director may exempt new MLC ships, of less than 3,000 tons or which are special purpose ships, from paragraph (9A) except that the number of persons that may be permitted to occupy sleeping rooms shall not exceed the following maximum number of persons:

(a)	for officers in charge of a department, navigating and engineer officers in charge of a watch and senior radio officers or operators — one person per room;
(b)	for other officers — 2 persons per room;
(c)	for petty officers — 2 persons per room;
(d)	for ratings other than petty officers in new MLC ships of less than 3,000 tons — 2 persons per room;
(e)	for ratings other than petty officers in new MLC ships which are special purpose ships — 4 persons per room.”;

(j)

by deleting paragraph (16) and substituting the following paragraph:

“(16) The minimum inside dimensions of a berth in a ship other than a new MLC ship shall be 1.90 m by 0.68 m and the minimum inside dimensions of a berth in a new MLC ship shall be 1.98 m by 0.8 m.”;

(k)

by inserting, immediately after the word “tidiness” in paragraph (21), the words “, and in new MLC ships shall as far as practicable be attached to private sanitary facilities”;

(l)

by inserting, immediately after the words “locking means” in paragraph (22), the words “, except that in a new MLC ship the clothes locker shall have a minimum volume of 0.475 m³”;

(m)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph (25), the following paragraph:

“(25A) In new MLC ships, the drawer or equivalent space for each occupant shall —

(a)	if the drawer is not incorporated in the clothes locker, be not less than 0.056 m³; or
(b)	if the drawer is incorporated in the clothes locker, be of a combined minimum volume with the clothes locker of 0.500 m³.”; and

(n)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph (28), the following paragraph:

“(29) In new MLC ships, sleeping rooms for male crew shall be separated from sleeping rooms for female crew.”.

Amendment of regulation 11

9. Regulation 11 of the principal Regulations is amended —

(a)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph (2), the following paragraphs:

“(2A) The floor area of each mess room in a new MLC ship, other than a passenger ship, shall be not less than 1.5 m² per person of the planned seating capacity.

(2B) Each mess room in a new MLC ship shall be equipped with —

(a)	a refrigerator placed at an accessible location and of sufficient capacity for the number of persons likely to use the mess room at any one time;
(b)	facilities for hot beverages; and
(c)	cool water facilities.”; and

(b)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph (5), the following paragraph:

“(5A) The Director may exempt new MLC ships of less than 3,000 tons from paragraph (5).”.

Amendment of regulation 12

10. Regulation 12 of the principal Regulations is amended by inserting, immediately after paragraph (2), the following paragraphs:

“(3) Recreation accommodation on all new MLC ships shall be furnished with a television, book-case with reading materials and facilities for reading, writing and, where practicable, games.

(4) All new MLC ships shall provide access to ship to shore telephone communications and electronic mail and Internet facilities, where available.

(5) If any fee is charged for the use of the communications or facilities referred to in paragraph (4), the fee shall be of a reasonable amount.”.

Amendment of regulation 13

11. Regulation 13 of the principal Regulations is amended —

(a)

by inserting, immediately after the words “living on board” in paragraph (3), the words “, and shall in all new MLC ships be easily accessible”;

(b)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph (3), the following paragraphs:

“(3A) In all new MLC ships, sanitary facilities shall be provided within easy access of the navigating bridge and the machinery space or near the engine room control centre.

(3B) The Director may exempt new MLC ships of less than 3,000 tons from paragraph (3A).”;

(c)

by deleting the word “Sanitary” in paragraph (4) and substituting the words “In all ships other than new MLC ships, sanitary”;

(d)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph (4), the following paragraphs:

“(4A) In all new MLC ships, sanitary facilities for all members of the crew who do not occupy rooms to which private facilities are attached shall be provided on the following scale:

(a)	one water closet for every 6 persons or less;
(b)	one wash basin for every 6 persons or less;
(c)	one tub or shower or both for every 6 persons or less.

(4B) In all new MLC ships, which are not passenger ships, each sleeping room shall be provided with a wash basin with cold fresh water and hot fresh water, except where such a wash basin is situated in a private bathroom provided.

(4C) The Director may allow special arrangements instead of the requirements under paragraphs (3A), (4A) and (4B) or a reduction in the number of facilities required under those paragraphs, in their application to a new MLC ship which is a passenger ship normally engaged on voyages of 4 hours or less.”;

(e)

by deleting the word “The” in paragraph (13) and substituting the words “In all ships other than new MLC ships, the”; and

(f)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph (13), the following paragraph:

“(13A) In all new MLC ships, the facilities for washing clothes shall include —

(a)	washing machines;
(b)	drying machines or adequately heated and ventilated drying rooms; and
(c)	irons and ironing boards or any equivalent facilities.”.

Amendment of regulation 14

12. Regulation 14(5) of the principal Regulations is amended —

(a)	by inserting, immediately after the words “closet accommodation”, the words “in all ships”; and
(b)	by inserting, immediately after the word “thereto”, the words “and in the case of new MLC ships, water closet accommodation shall comprise a minimum of one toilet, one wash basin and one tub or shower”.

Amendment of regulation 15

13. Regulation 15 of the principal Regulations is amended by inserting, immediately after paragraph (2), the following paragraphs:

“(3) Where separate facilities for engine department personnel to change their clothes are provided on a new MLC ship, they should be —

(a)	located outside the machinery space but with easy access to it;
(b)	fitted with individual clothes lockers;
(c)	fitted with tubs or showers or both; and
(d)	fitted with wash basins having hot and cold running fresh water.

(4) All new MLC ships shall be provided with separate offices or a common ship’s office for use by deck and engine departments.

(5) The Director may exempt new MLC ships of less than 3,000 tons from paragraph (4).”.

Deletion and substitution of Schedule

14. The Schedule to the principal Regulations is deleted and the following Schedule substituted therefor:

“THE SCHEDULE

FORM 1

Regulation 5(4)(a)

Certificate No.

CREW ACCOMMODATION CERTIFICATE

(This Certificate shall be supplemented by a Record of Crew Accommodation)

REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

Issued under the provisions of the
Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations (Cap. 179, Rg 29)
under the authority of the Government of the Republic of Singapore

Name of Ship

Official Number or Call Sign

IMO Number

Port of Registry

Gross Tonnage

Date Keel Laid^*

^* It will be sufficient to indicate the year in which the keel was laid or when the ship was at a similar stage of construction except for 1997, in which case the actual date should be given.

Type of ship:

Master:

persons

Crew on Board:

Officers:

persons

Petty officers:

persons

Ratings:

persons

THIS IS TO CERTIFY —

1	That the ship has been surveyed in accordance with regulation 5 of the Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations.

2	That the crew accommodation of the ship complied with the provisions of those Regulations.

Completion date of the survey on which this certificate is based:

Issued at .

(Place of issue)

(Date of issue)

…………………………..
(Name and signature of duly authorised official issuing the certificate)

FORM 2

Regulation 5(4)(b)

Certificate No.

CREW ACCOMMODATION CERTIFICATE

(This Certificate shall be supplemented by a Record of Crew Accommodation)

REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

Issued under the provisions of the
Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations (Cap. 179, Rg 29)
under the authority of the Government of the Republic of Singapore

Name of Ship

Official Number or Call Sign

IMO Number

Port of Registry

Gross Tonnage

Date Keel Laid^*

^* It will be sufficient to indicate the year in which the keel was laid or when the ship was at a similar stage of construction except for 2013, in which case the actual date should be given.

Type of ship:

Master:

persons

Seafarers on Board:

Officers

(seafarers performing the duties of ship’s officers):

persons

Petty officers

(ratings in supervisory position):

persons

Ratings

(seafarers not performing the duties of ship’s officers):

persons

THIS IS TO CERTIFY —

1	That the ship has been surveyed in accordance with regulation 5 of the Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations.

2	That the crew accommodation of the ship complied with the provisions of those Regulations.

Completion date of the survey on which this certificate is based:

Issued at .

(Place of issue)

(Date of issue)

…………………………..
(Name and signature of duly authorised official issuing the certificate)

FORM 3

Regulation 5(6)(a)

Certificate No.

EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE FOR CREW ACCOMMODATION

REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

Issued under the provisions of the
Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations (Cap. 179, Rg 29)
under the authority of the Government of the Republic of Singapore

Name of Ship

Official Number or Call Sign

IMO Number

Port of Registry

Gross Tonnage

Date Keel Laid^*

^* It will be sufficient to indicate the year in which the keel was laid or when the ship was at a similar stage of construction except for 1997, in which case the actual date should be given.

THIS IS TO CERTIFY —

that the ship is, under the authority conferred by regulation 3 of the Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations, exempted from the requirements of of the Regulations subject to the following conditions:

and limited to the following voyages:

Issued at .

(Place of issue)

(Date of issue)

…………………………..
(Name and signature of duly authorised official issuing the certificate)

FORM 4

Regulation 5(6)(b)

Certificate No.

EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE FOR CREW ACCOMMODATION

REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

Issued under the provisions of the
Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations (Cap. 179, Rg 29)
under the authority of the Government of the Republic of Singapore

Name of Ship

Official Number or Call Sign

IMO Number

Port of Registry

Gross Tonnage

Date Keel Laid^*

^* It will be sufficient to indicate the year in which the keel was laid or when the ship was at a similar stage of construction except for 2013, in which case the actual date should be given.

THIS IS TO CERTIFY —

and limited to the following voyages:

Issued at .

(Place of issue)

(Date of issue)

…………………………..
(Name and signature of duly authorised official issuing the certificate)

”.

Saving

15. Any crew accommodation certificate or exemption certificate for crew accommodation issued under regulation 5 in force immediately before 1st April 2014 shall continue to be valid until a survey of the ship is required under regulation 5(2).

Made this 12th day of March 2014.

LUCIEN WONG

Chairman,
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

[MPA 46/02.C11.V02/LSK; AG/LLRD/SL/179/2010/6 Vol. 2]