Merchant Shipping Act
(CHAPTER 179, Section 100)
Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations
Rg 29
G.N. No. S 328/1997

REVISED EDITION 1998
(15th June 1998)
[1st December 1997]
Citation
1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations.
PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Definitions
2.  In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —
“approved” means approved by the Director or by an authorised organisation;
“authorised organisation” means an organisation authorised by the Minister under section 116 of the Act for the survey or inspection of Singapore ships and the issue of any certificate under Part V of the Act;
“crew accommodation” includes such sleeping rooms, mess rooms, sanitary accommodation, hospital accommodation and recreation accommodation as are provided for the use of the crew;
“existing ship” means a ship which is not a new ship;
“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;
[S 184/2014 wef 01/04/2014]
“new ship” means a ship of which the keel is laid, or which is at a similar stage of construction, on or after 1st December 1997 and includes all new MLC ships;
[S 184/2014 wef 01/04/2014]
“officer” means a person other than a master designated as such by the crew agreement made under section 53 of the Act or a seafarer’s employment agreement, as the case may be;
[S 184/2014 wef 01/04/2014]
“petty officer” means a rating serving in a supervisory position or a position of special responsibility who is designated as such by the crew agreement made under section 53 of the Act or a seafarer’s employment agreement, as the case may be;
[S 184/2014 wef 01/04/2014]
“rating” means a member of the crew other than the master or an officer;
“ship” means a ship to which these Regulations apply;
“special limit voyage” means a voyage within the following limits:
from a point where the longitude 103° 00' East cuts the West coast of Johore, thence due South to latitude 00° 30' North, thence due East to longitude 105° 00' East, thence due North to latitude 01° 00' North, thence to the point 02° 00' North, 104° 15' East, thence due West to the coast of Johore and thence following the coast of Johore Westwards to the starting point;
“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;
[S 184/2014 wef 01/04/2014]
“surveyor of ships” means a person appointed as a surveyor of ships under section 5 of the Act;
“tons” means gross tonnage measured in accordance with the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage) Regulations (Rg 12);
“tug” means a ship constructed or adapted primarily to engage in towing or similar pursuits.
Application and exemption
3.—(1)  Unless otherwise expressly provided, these Regulations —
(a)shall apply to all new ships, subject to sub-paragraph (c);
(b)shall not apply to any existing ship, subject to sub-paragraph (c), unless —
(i)the owner of the ship so requests; or
(ii)the crew accommodation in such ship is substantially altered or reconstructed and such alteration or reconstruction takes place on or after 1st December 1997;
(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.
[S 184/2014 wef 01/04/2014]
(2)  Regulations 7(5) and 13(4B) and (12) shall not apply to a new MLC ship of less than 200 tons.
[S 184/2014 wef 01/04/2014]
(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.
[S 184/2014 wef 01/04/2014]
(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.
[S 184/2014 wef 01/04/2014]
[G.N. No. S 328/97]