Section 17(8) in The Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Rules, 1960
(8)(a)No bed shall be less than 20.5 centimetres from the floor of the room measured from the bottom of the matters referred to in sub-rule (10).(b)The upper bed in a double tier shall be at least 76.20 centimetres below the lower side of the deck head beams or other obstructions measured from the bottom of the matters.The bottom of the mattress in the lower bed shall be at last 91.44 centimetres below the bottom of the mattress in the upper bed if the height of the sleeping room is 2.30 centimetres or more and at least 83.8 centimetres below the bottom of the mattress in the upper bed if the height of the sleeping room is less than 2.30 centimetres. For the purposes of this sub-rule the height of the room shall be measured from the top of the floor beams to the top of the crown beams.(c)The Central Government may exempt;(i)any ship under 500 tons from any of the requirements of this sub-rules;(ii)any ship from the requirements of clause (b) of the sub-rule to the extent that it is satisfied that it is unreasonable or impracticable in the circumstances to remove obstructions above the beds in the crew accommodation of that ship.
