Section 23 in The Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Rules, 1960
23. Washing Accommodation.
(1)In every ship to which these rues apply, each of the following classless of persons shall be provided with washing accommodation separate from the provided for the other classes :-(a)officers and apprentices;(b)petty offices;(c)ratings other than petty officers.Provided that the Central Government may, in relation to any ship, permit any combination of the foregoing classes to be treated as one class for the purposes of this rule, if it is satisfied that the circumstances so require .(1A)[ In every ship to which these rules apply, being a ship of 7500 tons or over being less than 15,000 tons, washing accommodation provided in pursuance of sub-rule (1) shall included separate provide bath room attached to sleeping rooms of atleast four senior officers. Every such bath room shall be fitted with a tube of shower bath or both and a wash basin having hot and cold running fresh water.In addition, in every ship of 15000 tons or over, sleeping rooms of all senior offices shall have private or intercommunicating bathrooms similarly fitted.(2)The washing accommodation shall be situated close to the sleeping accommodation of persons for whose use it is appropriated:Provided that in ships of 1600 tons or over in which private sleeping rooms and private or semi-private bath-rooms are not provided for engine department personnel, there shall be provided facilities for changing clothes which shall be.-(i)located outside the machinery space but with easy access to it; and(ii)fitted with individual clothes lockers as well as with tubs of shower baths an wash basins having hot and cold running fresh water.](3)Access to washing accommodations shall not be directly obtained from a mess room or a sleeping room and shall wherever reasonable and profitable in the circumstances be obtained from a passageway. Provided that access to washing accommodation may be obtained directly from not more than 2 sleeping rooms accommodating not more than 4 persons in all, if the washing accommodation is appropriated for use solely by the person of persons incommoded in those sleeping rooms.(4)[] [Substituted by G.S.R. 1390, dated 12th December, 1974] Subject to the provisions of sub-rule (IA), washing accommodation for all classes of persons provided in pursuance of sub-rule (1) shall include one batch or shower, one wash basin and one toilet mirror for every six persons or apart thereof exceeding two persons in the case of a ship less than 2500 tons and the same equipment of every four persons or a part thereof exceeding one person in the case ships of 25000 tons or over :[Provided that the Central Government may, if satisfied that limitations imposed by design or any other constructional feature of any ship being-(a)a passenger ship engaged solely on voyages which are normally of less than 24 hours durations : or(b)a cargo ship in which the number of members of crew are more than 100, render full compliance of this requirement unreasonable or impracticable exempt such ship from the requirement in full or to such extent as it deems necessary.(i)a bath and a shower combined shall be deemed as a bath only;(ii)in determining the required number of baths or showers or wash basins no account shall be taken of any private baths or showers or wash basins provided in pursuance of these rule or of persons for whose use such baths or showers or wash basins are provided:(iii)a bath, shower or wash basin shall be deemed to be private if it is appropriate for the exclusive use of not more than four persons.](5)Tee wash-basins shall be made of vitreous china or other martial having a smooth and impervious surface not likely to crack, flake or become corroded. Every wash-basin provided in a passenger ship, being basin fitted with hot and cold fresh-water taps, shall have a capacity of at least 4.55 liters. Every other wash-basin provided in compliance with the rule shall have a capacity of at least 6.82 liters. The capacity of wash-basins shall be measured for the purpose of this sub-rule to a level at least 3.75 centimetres below the rim of the bowl.(6)Every bath shall be at least 1.35 metres in internal length unless it is combined with a shower. Every bath shall be made of vitreous enamelled iron, or other material having a smooth and impervious surface not likely to crack, flake or become corroded. The floor area of every shower space shall be at least 0.58 sq. metres and each side of the space shall be at least 76.20 centimetres long.(7)Baths and showers provided for any class of persons shall be situated in or adjacent to a room containing wash-basins and provided for that class of persons. Screening shall be provided to ensure privacy for any bath or shower which is in the same room as any wash basin or any other bath or shower unless the room is appropriated for the sole use of one person. The screening shall be made of robust and opaque material, and shall be rigid on at least three sides of every bath and shower space. The screening shall, wherever reasonable and practicable in the circumstances, enclose sufficient space to permit a person to dress and undress in comfort therein.(8)Every wash-basin, bath and shower shall be fitted within efficient and hygienic discharge system and in particular, the waste pipes shall be fitted in manner which will minimize the risk of obstruction and facilitate cleaning. Every shower space shall be provided with a handrail, a kerb and individual drainage. Every bath and shower space shall be provided with a grating or mat.(9)Spring-loaded draw off taps for hot and cold fresh water shall be fitted on a wall in every wash room provided for ratings unless taps for hot and cold fresh water are fitted to each wash-basin in that room. Draw-off taps for cold salt water shall be fitted in every such wash room unless there are other adequate means of washing down the room. The Central Government may exempt any ship of under 500 tons from the requirements of this sub-rule relating to hot water taps to the extent that it is satisfied that compliance therewith is unreasonable or impracticable in the circumstances.(10)Nothing in this rule shall apply to the washing accommodation forming part of a permanent hospital, and for the purposes of sub-rule (4) thereof no account shall be taken of any wash-basin, bath or shower fitted in a permanent hospital.
