The "Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations 1997 will enter into force on 1 December 1997. The Regulations are based on the ILO Convention No. 92 and contain provisions setting minimum standards for the location, construction, arrangement, equipment and facilities of crew accommodations on board ships.

The Regulations will apply to new ships (of which keels are laid or which are at a similar stage of construction on or after 1 December 1997) of 500 gross tons and above, and existing ships (which are not new ships) of 500 gross tons and above of which the crew accommodations are substantially altered or reconstructed on or after 1 December 1997.

The Society has now been authorized by the Singapore Government to survey the crew accommodation of a Singapore ship and issue a Crew Accommodation Certificate to it to which the Regulations apply.

When requesting the Society to survey the crew accommodation of a relevant Singapore ship and issue a Crew Accommodation Certificate, you are requested to submit an application accompanying the drawings/documents as listed below each in three copies to Material and Equipment Department for approval. An abstract of the Regulations related to the special requirements of Singapore is shown below. For details, reference should be made to the Regulations.

1. Drawings/Documents to be Submitted

The following drawings/documents each in three copies together with an application should be submitted to Material and Equipment Department of the head office for approval:


(1) a plan of the ship showing the location and general arrangement of the crew accommodation
(2) detailed plans of, and information concerning, the accommodation, showing the allocation of each space, the disposition of furniture and fittings, the means and arrangement of ventilation, lighting and heating and sanitary arrangements
(3) heat load calculations of the heating system

2. Abstract of the Regulations Related to Special Requirements of Singapore

(1) Mess Room
Adequate mess room accommodation shall be provided either by the provision of separate mess rooms for each group of the crew or a single combined mess room for all members of the crew.

(2) Hospital Accommodation
Hospitals shall be provided with one berth for every 50 or fraction of 50 members of the crew, and one berth for every additional 12 crew members or fraction thereof, above 50.

(3) Ventilation
Crew accommodation including such sleeping rooms, mess rooms, sanitary accommodation, hospital accommodation and recreation accommodation as are provided for the use of the crew shall be adequately ventilated.

(4) Heating System
The heating system shall be capable of ensuring that the temperature in crew accommodation can be maintained at 21℃ when the ventilation system provided for those rooms is working so as to supply at least 25 m3 of fresh air per hour for each person for whom that room is designed and when the ambient temperature is -1℃. Heat load calculations shall be approved.

(5) Sanitary Arrangement
Subject to the relevant requirements, the sanitary accommodation provided shall consist of separate sanitary accommodation for males and females if females are working or living on board.


(6) Fresh Water
(a) The crew shall be provided with fresh water of capacity sufficient to provide at least 72 litres per man per day and drinking water of capacity sufficient to provide at least 18 litres per man per day, or drinkable