Full Text
REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-16072026-274527
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 529]
NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2026/ASHADHA 16, 1948
5106 GI/2026
(1)
2
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
38
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II-SEC. 3(i)]
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 6th July, 2026
G.S.R. 587(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (i) of sub-section (1) of section 113
and clause (q) of sub-section (2) of section 113, read with section 70, clause (m) of sub-section (1) of
section 78, sub-section (2) of section 78 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 (24 of 2025), and in
supersession of the Merchant Shipping (Seafarer Accommodation) Rules, 2016, the Central
Government hereby makes the following rules, namely: -
1. Short title and Commencement.-(1) These rules may be called the Merchant
Shipping (Seafarer Accommodation) Rules, 2026.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official
Gazette.
2. Application.—(1) These rules shall apply to every ship registered, or so required to be registered,
under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 (24 of 2025):
Provided that these rules shall not apply to any ship plying in voyages within territorial
waters, the seafarers of which are not required to stay on board overnight for periods
exceeding eight hours.
(2) The requirements under these rules which relate to ship construction and equipment
shall apply only to ships constructed on or after 26th August, 2016:
Provided that ships constructed before 26th August, 2016 shall comply with the requirements
specified in the Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Rules, 1960.
Explanation. A ship shall be deemed to have been constructed on the date when its keel is
laid or when it is at a stage at which assembly of that ship has commenced comprising of at
least fifty tones or one per cent. of the estimated mass of all structural material, whichever is
less.
3. Definitions .-(1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires.-
(a) "Act" means the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 (24 of 2025);
(b) "approved" means approved or accepted by the Director-General;
(c)"gross tonnage” means the measure of the overall size of a ship determined in
accordance with the applicable rules made under the Act;
(d) "Schedule" means a Schedule annexed to these rules;
(e) "shipowner” means ship owner as defined in clause (c) of section 55 of the Act;
(f) "special purpose ships” means ships constructed in compliance with the Special
Purpose Ships (SPS) Code (IMO Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships, 1983,
and its subsequent versions), as amended from time to time;
39
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
(g)“sanitary accommodation” does not include any sleeping room or hospital ward,
whether or not provided with a wash basin, bath or shower or any room
appropriated for use only as a laundry.
(2) The words and expressions used in these rules and not defined but
defined in the Act shall have the meaning as assigned to them in the Act.
4. Seafarer accommodation.- Every ship shall provide and maintain a
minimum, decent accommodation and recreational facilities for seafarers
working or living on board, or both, consistent with promoting the health and
well-being of seafarers as specified in the Schedule I, Schedule II, Schedule III
and Schedule IV.
5. Plans.-(1) The ship-owner of every Indian ship to which these rules apply,
shall submit the plan or plans of the ship, in the circumstances specified in
clause (a) of sub-rule (2) of rule 6 for approval to the surveyor:
Provided that where any part of the seafarer accommodation is sought to be
substantially altered or repaired, such alteration or repair shall be subject to approval
granted by the surveyor.
(2) The plans, drawn in a suitable scale, shall clearly show the arrangement of the seafarer
accommodation in the ship, its position in relation to other spaces, constructional details,
various dimensions, furniture, fixtures and amenities provided therein.
(3) The seafarer accommodation provided in the ship shall comply with the plan as
approved by the surveyor.
6. Certification and verification.– (1) On being satisfied that an Indian ship has
been provided with seafarer accommodation in accordance with these rules, a
'record of compliance' may be issued to such ship by the surveyor, in Form 1.
(2) The survey of seafarer accommodation of an Indian ship shall be carried out in the
following manner, namely:
(a) Inspection by a surveyor.- The seafarer accommodation in a ship shall
be inspected by a surveyor whenever,
(i) the ship is registered or re-registered in India;
(ii) any part of the seafarer accommodation in the ship undergoes substantial
alterations or repairs;
(iii)the number of persons accommodated in any space is increased above that
marked in accordance with sub-paragraph 11 of paragraph 1 of Schedule I;
(iv)in the opinion of a surveyor, there is reason to believe (whether or not in
consequence of a complaint) that any of the provisions of these rules has been
contravened in respect of that ship, or that any condition subject to which the
40
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II-SEC. 3(i)]
Director-General has exempted the ship from a requirement of these rules has
not been satisfied;
(v) a request for an inspection of the seafarer accommodation has been made to the
Director-General or to the Mercantile Marine Department, by or on behalf of
the shipowner or of any organisation which appears to the representative of the
shipowner of Indian ships or of the seafarer concerned; or
(b) Inspection by shipping master or others upon request,- The seafarer
accommodation in a ship may be inspected by the shipping master,
surveyor, seafarer's welfare officer, Indian ambassador or any other
officer at any port duly authorised in this behalf by the Central
Government, upon a request made by the master or three or more
seafarers under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 93 of the Act,
when,-
(i) such request made in writing, signed by the master or three or more members of
the seafarer; and
(ii) it is alleged that the seafarer accommodation in the ship does not comply with
these rules; and
(iii)it is lodged at least twenty-four hours before the ship is due to commence
voyage, unless the ship is in port for less than twenty-four hours.
7. Equivalent arrangements.— The Director-General may, in accordance with
the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, accept equivalent alternate
arrangements on a ship, or deviations from the requirements specified in these
rules, when such deviations can be clearly justified, subject to the seafarers'
living conditions, health and safety.
SCHEDULE I
(See rule 4)
1. General requirements for accommodation.-(1) The accommodation, recreational and
catering facilities shall be designed to meet the requirements of these rules, with
regard to seafarers' health and safety, protection and accident prevention, prevention
of the risk of exposure to hazardous levels of noise and vibration and other ambient
factors and chemicals on board ships. The construction and arrangement of the
accommodation shall provide an acceptable occupational and onboard living
environment for the seafarers.
(2) No structure shall be deemed to be watertight, gastight, or oil tight for the purposes of these
rules unless all openings in that structure, other than ventilation openings necessary for the
admission of air from passageways to sanitary accommodation, laundries, drying rooms or galleys,
are provided with means of closure which shall enable such openings to be made watertight,
gastight or oil tight, as the case may be.
(3) All paneling, insulation, flooring and ceiling shall be of a non-combustible material and of an
approved type.
41
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II-SEC. 3(i)]
(4) Asbestos, or materials containing asbestos, shall not be used for any purpose in
the seafarer accommodation.
(5) The accommodation shall be adequately insulated.
(6) Proper lighting and sufficient drainage shall be provided in the seafarers accommodation areas.
(7) Paints, varnishes and other finishes used on interior surfaces in the seafarer
accommodation shall be of approved type, and shall not be capable of
producing excessive quantities of smoke and toxic products.
(8) Position of Seafarer Accommodation:
(a) In ships other than passenger ships and special purpose ships (SPS),
sleeping rooms shall be situated above the loadline amid ships or aft, except
that in exceptional cases, where the size, type or intended service of the ship
renders any other location impracticable, sleeping rooms may be located in the
fore part of the ship, but in no case forward of the collision bulkhead;
(b) In passenger ships and special purpose ships (SPS), the Director-General may, on
condition that satisfactory arrangements are made for lighting and ventilation, permit the
location of sleeping rooms below the load line, but in no case shall they be located
immediately beneath working alleyways;
(c) There shall be adequate headroom in all seafarer accommodation. The minimum
permitted headroom in all seafarer accommodation where full and free movement is
necessary shall be not less than 203 centimeters. The Director-General may permit some
limited reduction in headroom in any space, or part of any space, in such accommodation
where it is satisfied that such reduction,
(i) IS REASONABLE; AND
(ii) WILL NOT RESULT IN DISCOMFORT TO THE SEAFARERS.
(9) Construction of bulkheads and paneling: (a) External bulkheads of sleeping
rooms and mess rooms shall be adequately insulated. All machinery casings
and all boundary bulkheads of galleys and other spaces in which heat is
produced shall be adequately insulated where there is a possibility of resulting
heat effects in adjoining accommodation or passageways. Measures shall also
be taken to provide protection from heat effects of steam or hot-water service
pipes.
(b) Sleeping rooms, mess rooms, recreation rooms and alleyways in the accommodation
space shall be adequately insulated to prevent condensation or overheating.
42
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II-SEC. 3(i)]
(c) The bulkhead surfaces and deckheads shall be of material with a surface easily kept
clean. No form of construction likely to harbour vermin shall be used.
(d) The bulkhead surfaces and deckheads in sleeping rooms and mess rooms shall be
capable of being easily kept clean and light in colour with a durable, non-toxic finish.
(e) The decks in all seafarer accommodation shall be of approved material and construction
and shall provide a non-slip surface impervious to damp and easily kept clean.
(f) Where the floorings are made of composite materials, the joints with the sides shall be
profiled to avoid crevices.
(g) The materials used to construct internal bulkheads, paneling and sheeting, floors and
joining shall be suitable for the purpose and conducive to ensuring a healthy environment.
(h) In every ship to which these rules apply, all bulkheads enclosing or within any part of
the seafarer accommodation shall be properly constructed of steel or other suitable
material. If the bulkheads are exposed to the weather, they shall be of watertight
and gastight construction, and means of closure shall be provided for all openings in such
bulkheads so as to enable them to be made weathertight.
(i) There shall be no direct openings into sleeping rooms from cargo spaces or machinery
spaces or from galleys, store rooms, drying rooms or communal sanitary areas. That part of
a bulkhead separating such spaces from sleeping rooms and external bulkheads shall be
efficiently constructed of steel or other approved substance and be watertight and gas-tight.
(10) Protection from Weather, etc: (a) The seafarer accommodation shall be
accessible at all times from the open deck.
(b) Chain pipes, and ventilator trunks to cargo spaces or tanks, where they pass through
any part of the seafarer accommodation, shall be made of steel or other suitable material
and shall be gastight.
(c) Batteries for the operation of the ships radio installation or other purposes, shall not be
placed in any sleeping room provided for the seafarer, and precautions shall be taken which
will ensure that fumes from such batteries cannot discharge into any part of the seafarer
accommodation.
(d) Any part of the seafarer accommodation which is adjacent to any part (other than the
crown) of a tank in which oil may be carried in bulk, shall be separated there from by a
gastight steel division, additional to the division which retains the oil.
(e) If any part of the seafarer accommodation is situated on a deck which forms the crown
of a space in which oil may be carried in bulk, such deck shall be oil tight. No manholes or
other openings to the oil tanks shall be situated in the seafarer accommodation.
(f) The means of access to and egress from every part of the seafarer accommodation
shall be so situated that in the event of fire in any lamp room or paint room in the ship,
access to and egress from the seafarer accommodation shall not be impeded.
(11) Drainage: (a) In every ship to which these rules apply efficient drainage shall
be provided for every part of the seafarer accommodation situated on an open
43
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
deck wherever such drainage is necessary for clearing water shipped from the
sea.
(b) There shall be no drainage from any source (not being sanitary accommodation) into
the sanitary accommodation forming part of the seafarer accommodation.
(12) Marking: (a) Every space forming part of the seafarer accommodation of a
ship shall be marked inside the room with the marking as specified in schedule
III.
(b) No space forming part of the seafarer accommodation of a ship to which these rules
apply, shall be marked whether inside or outside with any marking which may be taken to
indicate that the space is appropriated for use by persons differing in number of description
from the persons for whose use the space has been certified by a surveyor.
(13) Drinking Water: (a) In every ship to which these rules apply, the drinking
water of appropriate quality, taking into account the total number of persons
on board, shall always be provided in the seafarer accommodation. Provision
for cold drinking water shall be made in the galleys and pantries, and in
the mess rooms.
(b) Provision may also be made for the availability of cold drinking water, in close
proximity to the spaces where watch-keeping seafarers are on duty.
(c) The storage, filling and distribution arrangements for drinking water shall be such as
to prevent any possible contamination. A dry space, such as cofferdam, shall be provided
between drinking water tanks and other tanks such as oil tanks and sewage tanks. Drinking
water tanks shall not contain any piping other than that necessary for the carriage and
distribution of drinking water. Air, filling and sounding pipes shall stand sufficiently
above the deck.
2. Ventilation, Air-conditioning and Heating. - (1) (a) sleeping rooms and mess rooms shall
be adequately ventilated;
(b) ships, except those regularly engaged in trade where temperate climatic conditions do
not require this, shall be equipped with air conditioning for seafarer accommodation, for
any separate radio room and for any centralised machinery control room. Ships below 200
gross tonnage are exempted from this requirement subject to provision of trunked
mechanical ventilation;
(c) all sanitary spaces shall have ventilation to the open air, independently of any other part
of the accommodation;
(d) the system of ventilation for sleeping rooms and mess rooms 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;
(e) air-conditioning systems, whether of a centralised or individual unit type, shall be
designed to.
44
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II-SEC. 3(i)]
(i) maintain the air at a satisfactory temperature and relative humidity as compared to
outside air conditions, ensure a sufficiency of air changes in all air-conditioned
spaces, take account of the particular characteristics of operations at sea and not
produce excessive noises or vibrations; and
(ii) facilitate easy cleaning and disinfection to prevent and control the spread of disease.
(f) power for the operation of the air conditioning and other aids to ventilation required by
the preceding paragraphs of this schedule shall be available at all times where seafarers are
living or working on board and conditions so require. However, this power need not be
provided from an emergency source;
(g) ships, which are exclusively engaged in trade outside tropical climate areas, shall be
provided with a ventilation system which will maintain the air therein in a state of purity
adequate for the health and comfort of the seafarer. Such system shall be capable of being
so controlled as to ensure a sufficiency of air movement under all conditions of weather
and climate to which the ship is likely to be subjected during the voyages on which she is
intended to be engaged and shall be additional to any side scuttles, skylights, companions,
doors or other apertures not intended solely for ventilation;
(h) every enclosed space forming part of the seafarer accommodation of a ship, being a
space not fully air-conditioned or not ventilated by a trunked mechanical ventilation
system, shall be provided with a natural system of inlet and exhaust ventilation;
(i) in the seafarer accommodation of every ship, being a ship not fully air conditioned, an
electric fan shall be fitted in every sleeping room, mess room, recreation room, office,
Galley and pantry.
(2) The air conditioning system, whether of a centralised type or individual unit
type shall be so designed as to -
(i) maintain the air at a satisfactory temperature of 28° with 50% relative
humidity when ambient temp is 35°C with 70% relative humidity;
(ii) ensure eight air changes per hour in any mess room or recreation room & six
air changes in any other room, the amount of re-circulated air not exceeding
50% at any stage, while at sea;
(iii) take into account particular characteristics of operations at sea so as to avoid
producing objectionable noises or vibrations;
(iv) facilitate easy cleaning and disinfection to prevent and control of spread of
disease.
(3) (a) adequate heat through an appropriate heating system shall be provided, except in
ships exclusively on voyages in tropical climates;
(b) the system of heating the seafarer accommodation, when required under these
rules, shall be in operation at all times when seafarers are living or working on
board and conditions require its use:
Provided that while the ship is in port the heating system shall not be
required to be in operation if efficient temporary means of heating are provided
for such parts of the seafarer accommodation as are in use.
(c) in all ships in which a heating system is required, the heating should be by
means of hot water, warm air, electricity, steam or equivalent. However, within
the accommodation area, steam shall not be used as a medium for heat
transmission. The heating system shall be capable of maintaining the temperature
in seafarer accommodation at a satisfactory level under normal conditions of
weather and climate likely to be met within the trade in which the ship is
engaged;
45
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II- SEC. 3(i)]
(d) radiators and other heating apparatus shall be placed and, where necessary, shielded so
as to avoid risk of fire or danger or discomfort to the occupants.
3. Lighting.-(1) In all ships, electric light should be provided in the seafarer
accommodation. If there are not two independent sources of electricity for lighting,
additional lighting should be provided by properly constructed lamps or lighting apparatus
for emergency use.
(2) In sleeping rooms an electric reading lamp should be installed at the head
of each berth.
(3) The standards of electric lighting shall comply with Schedule IV.
(4) In addition, every sleeping room and mess room in a ship shall be properly
lighted by natural light:
Provided that if in any space in a passenger ship it is impracticable to
provide proper natural lighting, such lighting shall not be required if adequate
electric lighting is always available in that space.
(5) The natural lighting of a sleeping room/mess room, or the artificial light in
any space, shall be deemed to be proper for the purpose of this Schedule if it is
sufficient to enable an ordinary newspaper to be read by a person of normal
vision at any point in the room, being a point available for free
movement, during day time and in clear weather.
4. Sleeping accommodation.— When sleeping accommodation on board ships is required, the
following requirements for sleeping rooms shall apply, namely:-
(a) in ships other than passenger ships, an individual sleeping room shall be provided for
each seafarer. However, in the case of ships of less than 3,000 gross tonnage or special
purpose ships, the maximum number of seafarers accommodated in sleeping rooms
shall not exceed the following, namely:-
(i) for ships between 500 gross tonnage and 3000 gross tonnage: Master, Chief
Engineer, navigating and engineer officers in charge of a watch- 1 person per room.
(ii) for ships below 500 gross tonnage: Master and Chief Engineer- 1 person per room
(iii) seafarers other than (i) and (ii) above: Not more than 2 persons per room.
(b) separate sleeping rooms shall be provided for men and for women;
(c) sleeping rooms shall be of adequate size and properly equipped so as to ensure
reasonable comfort and to facilitate tidiness;
(d) a separate berth for each seafarer shall in all circumstances be provided;
(e) the minimum inside dimensions of a berth shall be at least 198 centimetres by 80
centimetres;
(f) in single berth seafarers' sleeping rooms, the floor area shall not be less than
(i) 4.5 square metres in ships of less than 3,000 gross tonnage;
(ii) 5.5 square metres in ships of 3,000 gross tonnage or over but less than 10,000
gross tonnage; and
(iii) 7 square metres in ships of 10,000 gross tonnage or over;
(g) however, in order to provide single berth sleeping rooms on ships of less than 3,000
gross tonnage, passenger ships and special purpose ships, the Director-General of
Shipping may allow a reduced floor area;
46
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II-SEC. 3(i)]
(h) in ships of less than 3,000 gross tonnage other than passenger ships and special
purpose ships, sleeping rooms may be occupied by a maximum of two seafarers and
the floor area of such sleeping rooms shall not be less than 7 square metres;
(i) on passenger ships and special purpose ships, the floor area of sleeping rooms for
seafarers not performing the duties of ships' officers shall not be less than -
(i) 7.5 square metres in rooms accommodating two persons;
(ii) 11.5 square metres in rooms accommodating three persons; and
(iii) 14.5 square metres in rooms accommodating four persons;
(j) on special purpose ships, sleeping rooms may accommodate more than four persons
and the floor area of such sleeping rooms shall not be less than 3.6 square metres per
person;
(k) on ships other than passenger ships and special purpose ships, sleeping rooms for
seafarers who perform the duties of ships' officers, where no private sitting room or
day room is provided, the floor area per person shall not be less than:
(i) 7.5 square metres in ships of less than 3,000 gross tonnage;
(ii) 8.5 square metres in ships of 3,000 gross tonnage or over but less than 10,000
gross tonnage; and
(iii) 10 square metres in ships of 10,000 gross tonnage or over;
(1) on passenger ships and special purpose ships the floor area for seafarers performing
the duties of ships' officers where no private sitting room or day room is provided, the
floor area per person for junior officers shall not be less than 7.5 square metres and for
senior officers not less than 8.5 square metres; junior officers are understood to be at
the operational level, and senior officers at the management level;
(m)on ships of 3000 gross tonnage and above, the master, the chief engineer and the chief
navigating officer shall have, in addition to their sleeping rooms, an adjoining sitting
room, day room or equivalent additional space. Consideration shall be given to
extending the facility referred to the second engineer officer when practicable;
(n) for each occupant, the furniture shall include a clothes locker of ample space
(minimum 475 litres) and a drawer or equivalent space of not less than 56 litres. If the
drawer is incorporated in the clothes locker, then the combined minimum volume of
the clothes locker shall be 500 litres. It shall be fitted with a shelf and be able to be
locked by the occupant so as to ensure privacy;
(o) each sleeping room shall be provided with a table or desk, which may be of the fixed,
drop-leaf or slide-out type, and with comfortable seating accommodation as necessary;
(p) there shall be adequate berth arrangements on board, making it as comfortable as
possible for the seafarer and any partner who may accompany the seafarer;
(q) where the size of the ship, the activity in which it is to be engaged and its layout make
it reasonable and practicable, sleeping rooms shall be planned and equipped with a
47
private bathroom, including a toilet, so as to provide reasonable comfort for the
occupants and to facilitate tidiness;
(r) as far as practicable, sleeping rooms of seafarers shall be so arranged that watches are
separated and that no seafarers working during the day share a room with
watchkeepers;
(s) in the case of seafarers performing the duty of petty officers there shall be no more
than two persons per sleeping room;
(t) space occupied by berths and lockers, chests of drawers and seats shall be included in
the measurement of the floor area. Small or irregularly shaped spaces which do not
add effectively to the space available for free movement and cannot be used for
installing furniture shall be excluded;
(u) berths shall not be arranged in tiers of more than two. In the case of berths placed
along the ship's side, there should be only a single tier where a sidelight is situated
above a berth;
(v) the lower berth in a double tier should be not less than 30 centimeters above the floor;
the upper berth should be placed approximately midway between the bottom of the
lower berth and the lower side of the deckhead beams;
(w)the framework and the lee-board, if any, of a berth should be of approved material,
hard, smooth, and not likely to corrode or to harbour vermin;
(x) if tubular frames are used for the construction of berths, they should be completely
sealed and without perforations which would give access to vermin;
(y) each berth should be fitted with a comfortable mattress with cushioning bottom or a
combined cushioning mattress, including a spring bottom or a spring mattress. The
mattress and cushioning material used should be made of approved material. Stuffing
of material likely to harbour vermin should not be used;
(z) when one berth is placed over another, a dust-proof bottom should be fitted beneath
the bottom mattress or spring bottom of the upper berth;
(za) the furniture should be of smooth, hard material not liable to warp or corrode;
(zb) sleeping rooms should be fitted with curtains or equivalent for the sidelights;
(zc) sleeping rooms should be fitted with a mirror, small cabinets for toilet requisites, a
book rack and a sufficient number of coat hooks;
(zd) a curtain shall be fitted to each bed unless the room accommodates only one person.
5. Mess rooms.- (1) Mess rooms shall be located apart from the sleeping rooms and as close
as practicable to the galley.
48
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II-SEC. 3(i)]
(2) Mess rooms shall be of adequate size and comfort and properly furnished and
equipped (including ongoing facilities for refreshment), taking account of the
number of seafarers likely to use them at any one time.
(3) Mess room facilities may be either common or separate. Account should be
taken of factors such as the size of the ship and the distinctive cultural, religious
and social needs of the seafarers.
(4) Where separate mess room facilities are to be provided to seafarers, then
separate mess rooms should be provided for,
(a) master and officers; and
(b) petty officers and other seafarers.
(5) On ships other than passenger ships, the floor area of mess rooms for seafarers
should be not less than 1.5 square metres per person of the planned seating
capacity.
(6) In all ships, mess rooms should be equipped with tables and appropriate seats,
fixed or movable, sufficient to accommodate the greatest number of seafarers
likely to use them at any one time.
(7) There should be available at all times when seafarers are on board,-
(a) a refrigerator, which should be conveniently situated and of sufficient capacity
for the number of persons using the mess room or mess rooms;
(b) facilities for hot beverages; and
(c) cool water facilities.
(8) Where available pantries are not accessible to mess rooms, adequate lockers
for mess utensils and proper facilities for washing utensils should be provided.
(9) The tops of tables and seats should be of damp-resistant material.
(10) In every ship to which these rules apply, the following equipment shall be
fitted in every mess room or in a pantry readily accessible at all times by the
seafarer, using the mess room or adjacent to it, or, in the case of ship under
3000 tons in a galley,-
(a) a storage locker;
(b) supply of cold drinking water;
(c) means of heating drinking water for hot beverages; and
(d) a microwave oven.
6. Sanitary facilities.—(1) All seafarers shall have convenient access on the ship to sanitary
facilities meeting minimum standards of health and hygiene and reasonable standards of
49
comfort, with separate sanitary facilities being provided for men and for women;
[PART II-SEC. 3(i)]
(2) On ships of more than 3,000 gross tonnage, there shall be sanitary facilities
within easy access of the navigating bridge and the machinery space or near
the engine room control centre.
(3) In every ship, a minimum of one toilet, one wash basin and one tub or
shower or both for every six persons or less, who do not have personal
facilities shall be provided at a convenient location.
(4) In every ship other than a passenger ship, each sleeping room shall be
provided with a washbasin having hot and cold running fresh water, except
where such a washbasin is situated in the private bathroom provided. Ships
below 200 gross tonnage need not meet this requirement.
(5) In passenger ships normally engaged on voyages of not more than four
hours' duration, one water closet to be provided for twelve passengers and not
less than one urinal to be separately provided for gents and ladies.
(6) Hot and cold running fresh water shall be available in all wash places.
(7) Washbasins and tub baths should be of adequate size and constructed of
approved material with a smooth surface not liable to crack, flake or corrode.
(8) All toilets should be provided with an ample flush of water or with some
other suitable flushing means, such as air, which are available at all times and
independently controllable.
(9) Sanitary accommodation intended for the use of more than one person
should comply with the following requirements, namely:-
(a) floors should be of approved durable material, impervious to damp, and should be
properly drained;
(b) bulkheads should be of steel or other approved material and should be watertight
up to at least 23 centimetres above the level of the deck:
Provided that the requirements of this clause shall not apply to bulkheads
separating similar spaces (e.g., a sanitary accommodation from another sanitary
accommodation) or a bulkhead separating the sanitary accommodation from a
sleeping room from which it may be directly entered;
(c) the accommodation should be sufficiently lit, heated and ventilated;
(d) toilets should be situated convenient to, but separate from, sleeping rooms and
wash rooms, without direct access from the sleeping rooms or from a passage
between sleeping rooms and toilets to which there is no other access; this
requirement does not apply where a toilet is located in a compartment between
two sleeping rooms having a total of not more than four seafarers; and
(e) where there is more than one toilet in a compartment, they should be sufficiently
screened to ensure privacy.
(10) The laundry facilities provided for seafarers' use shall include,—
(a) washing machines;
(b) drying machines or adequately heated and ventilated drying rooms; and
(c) irons and ironing boards or their equivalent.
For ships below 500 gross tonnage, a washing-cum-drying machine may be provided
instead of (a) and (b) above.
50
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
7. Hospital accommodation.-(1) Every ship, carrying 15 or more seafarers and engaged in
a voyage of more than three days' duration shall have separate hospital accommodation to
be used exclusively for medical purposes. The space so appropriated shall not at any time
be used for any purpose other than for the treatment of sick persons:
Provided that ships exclusively engaged in coasting trade need not have separate
hospital, if, –
(a) a space is designated for use as a temporary hospital in case of emergency;
and
(b) the area and layout of such designated space shall be so made that an injured person
on stretcher can easily be carried into the space and provided medical first aid.
(2) The hospital accommodation shall, in all weathers, be easy of access, provide comfortable
housing for the occupants and be conducive to their receiving prompt and proper attention.
(3) The hospital accommodation shall be designed so as to facilitate consultation and the giving of
medical first aid and to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
(4) The arrangement of the entrance, berths, lighting, ventilation, heating and water supply
should be designed to ensure the comfort and facilitate the treatment of the occupants.
(5) The number of hospital berths required shall be in the scale of at least one berth for every 50
seafarers or part thereof.
(6) Sanitary accommodation should be provided for the exclusive use of the occupants of the
hospital accommodation, either as part of the accommodation or in close proximity thereto. Such
sanitary accommodation should comprise a minimum of one toilet, one washbasin and one tub or
shower.
(7) The minimum width of the entrance to every permanent hospital shall not be less than 76
centimeters.
(8) Fittings and equipment .- Every hospital shall be provided with,-
(i) clothes locker approximately 30 centimeter square by 61 centimeters high, and
fitted with a flat top and a shelf;
(ii) an electric bell-pushes so arranged as to be within reach of each bed and
communicating with the sleeping room of a person in charge of the patients and the
sleeping room.
8. Miscellaneous.—(1) In every ship, adequately ventilated compartments or lockers shall be
provided for hanging oilskins and working clothes used by the seafarer.
(2) Where separate facilities for engine department personnel to change their clothes
are provided, they shall be,—
(a) located outside the machinery space but with easy access to it; and
(b) fitted with individual clothes lockers as well as with tubs or showers or
both and washbasins having hot and cold running fresh water.
51
(3) airing spaces on open deck: all ships shall have a space or spaces on
open deck to which the seafarers can have access when off duty, which are of
adequate area having regard to the size of the ship and the number of
seafarers on board.
(4) office accommodation: all ships of more than 3,000 gross tonnage shall
be provided with separate offices or a common ship's office for use by deck
and engine departments.
(5) bedding, mess utensils and miscellaneous provisions: the shipowner
shall provide the following also for the seafarers,—
(i) clean bedding and mess utensils should be supplied by the shipowner to all
seafarers for use on board during service on the ship, and such seafarers should be
responsible for their return at times specified by the master and on completion of
service in the ship;
(ii) bedding should be of good quality, and plates, cups and other mess utensils should
be of approved material which can be easily cleaned; and
(iii) towels, soap and toilet paper for all seafarers should be provided by the
shipowner.
(6) protection from mosquitoes:
(a) ships regularly trading to mosquito-infested ports shall be provided with
protection against the admission of mosquitoes. Such protection shall be provided
by means of self-closing doors or by screens of rust proof wire or other suitable
material which shall be fitted to all side scuttles, natural ventilators, skylights and
doors leading to the open deck.
(b) any door to which such screens are fitted being a door at the entrance to a
permanent or temporary hospital in a ship to which these paragraphs apply, shall be
of a self-closing type.
9. Recreation facilities.- (1) On every ship, appropriate seafarers' recreational
facilities, amenities and services, as adapted to meet the special needs of seafarers
who must live and work on ships, shall be provided on board for the benefit of all
seafarers.
(2) Recreational facilities and services shall be reviewed frequently to
ensure that they are appropriate in the light of changes in the needs of
seafarers resulting from technical, operational and other developments in the
shipping industry.
(3) Furnishings for recreational facilities shall as a minimum include a
bookcase and facilities for reading, writing and, where practicable, games.
(4) The following facilities may also be provided, at no cost to the seafarer,
where practicable,-
(a) smoking room;
(b) television viewing and the reception of radio broadcasts;
52
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II-SEC. 3(i)]
(c) showing of films, the stock of which should be adequate for the duration of the
voyage and, where necessary, changed at reasonable intervals;
(d) sports equipment including exercise equipment, table games and deck games;
(e) facilities for swimming;
(f) a library containing vocational and other books, the stock of which should be
adequate for the duration of the voyage and changed at reasonable intervals;
(g) facilities for recreational handicrafts;
(h) electronic equipment such as a radio, television, digital video player, personal
computer and software;
(i) where appropriate, the provision of bars on board for seafarers unless these are
contrary to national, religious or social customs; and
(j) reasonable access to ship-to-shore telephone communications, and email and
Internet facilities, where available, with any charges for the use of these
services being reasonable in amount.
10. Maintenance and inspection of seafarer accommodation.- (1) The seafarer
accommodation in every ship to which these rules apply, shall be maintained in a clean
and habitable condition and equipments and installations required by these rules shall
be maintained in good working order. Every part of the seafarer accommodation (not
being a store room) shall be kept free of store and other property not belonging to or
provided for the use of persons for whom that part of the accommodation is
appropriated, and in particular, no cargo shall be kept in any part of the seafarer
accommodation.
(2) The master of the ship, or an officer appointed by him for the purpose, accompanied by
one or more members of the seafarer, shall inspect every part of the seafarer
accommodation at least once in two weeks to ensure that seafarer accommodation is clean,
decently habitable and maintained in a good state of repair. The results of each such
inspection shall be recorded and be available for review. The master of the ship shall cause
to be entered in a book specially kept for the purpose a record of,-
(i) the time and date of the inspection;
(ii) the names and ranks of the persons making the inspection;
(iii) particulars of any respect in which the seafarer accommodation or any part thereof
was found by any of the persons making the inspection not to comply with these
rules.
11. Prevention of noise and vibration.- (1) The seafarer accommodation, recreational and
catering facilities shall be located as far as practicable from the engines, steering gear
rooms, deck winches, ventilation, heating and air-conditioning equipment and other
noisy machinery and apparatus.
53
(2) Acoustic insulation or other appropriate sound-absorbing materials of
approved type shall be used in the construction and finishing of bulkheads,
deckheads and decks within the sound-producing spaces as well as self-closing
noise-isolating doors for machinery spaces.
(3) Engine rooms and other machinery spaces shall be provided, wherever
practicable, with soundproof centralised control rooms for engine-room
personnel. Working spaces, such as the machine shop, should be insulated, as
far as practicable, from the general engine-room noise and measures shall be
taken to reduce noise in the operation of machinery.
(4) The limits for noise levels for working and living spaces shall be in
conformity with the ‘IMO Code on Noise Levels on Board Ships' of the
International Maritime Organization and international guidelines on exposure
levels, including those in the code of practice entitled 'Ambient factors in the
workplace, 2001', of the International Labour Organization and, where
applicable, the specific protection recommended by the International Maritime
Organization, and with any subsequent amending and supplementary
instruments for acceptable noise levels on board ships. A copy of the applicable
instruments in English or the working language of the ship shall be carried on
board and shall be accessible to seafarers.
(5) No accommodation or recreational or catering facilities should be
exposed to excessive vibration in accordance with the standards prescribed by
International Maritime Organisation and International Labour Organisation.
12. Galleys, Provision rooms, cold storage, refrigerating equipment.– (1) (a) every ship shall
be provided with a galley for the preparation of food for the seafarer, unless the circumstances are such
that no member of the seafarer are required to mess on board;
(b) the galley shall be situated as near as may be to the mess rooms provided for the seafarer and any
necessary equipment shall be provided to enable food to be served in the mess rooms under all weather
conditions;
(c) there shall be no direct opening between the galley and any sleeping room;
(d) every galley shall be provided with exhaust fans which will draw off fumes from the cooking
appliances therein and discharge the fumes into the open air;
(e) the floor of the galley shall be provided with gutters and with scuppers which shall be led
overboard or to an enclosed tank served by mechanically operated suction pump. The position and
number of the gutter and scuppers shall be such as will ensure the efficient drainage of the floor;
(f) the cooking appliances in the galley shall be arranged in a manner which will facilitate the
cleaning of the galley;
(g) all cupboards and dressers in the galley shall be made of material which is impervious to dirt and
moisture and can easily be kept clean. All metal parts of the cupboards and dressers shall be
rustproof. The bottoms of all cupboards and dressers in the galley shall either be flush with the deck or
shall be so fitted as to enable the deck space beneath them to be readily accessible for cleaning;
54
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II-SEC. 3(i)]
(h) every galley shall be provided with such equipment as will enable food in sufficient
quantity to be properly and readily prepared for the persons whom the galley is intended
to serve, and the cooking utensils to be hygienically cleaned;
(i) every galley shall be provided with one or more cooking appliances with an oven and/or
cooking range of adequate capacity.
(2) Dry provision rooms.— (a) in every ship, not being a ship in which each member
of the seafarer provides his own food, one or more store rooms shall be provided
for the storage of dry provisions for the seafarer. Such rooms shall be fitted with
sufficient shelves, cupboards and bins having regard to the maximum period likely
to elapse between successive replenishments of stores and to the maximum
number of persons for whom food is to be served;
(b) every dry provision store room shall be enclosed by bulkheads constructed of steel or
other suitable material;
(c) access to every dry provision store room shall be obtained from a passageway, galley,
pantry or another store room, or from a position on an open deck with, in so far as is
reasonable and practicable in the circumstances, shall be a protected position;
(d) every dry provision store room shall be so situated, constructed and ventilated as to avoid
deterioration of the stores through heat, draught, condensation or infestation by insects or
vermin.
(3) Cold store rooms and refrigerating equipment.– (a) in every ship means shall be
provided to store perishable provisions. In ships below 3000 gross tonnage,
refrigerated or box freezers may be located in a dry provision room or galley or any
other suitable place close to galley;
(b) access to every cold store room shall be obtained from a passageway, galley or
pantry or from another store room.
55
SCHEDULE II
[ See para 2 of Schedule 1]
Trunked Mechanical Ventilation System
1. The trunked mechanical ventilation system referred to para 2 of Schedule 1 of these rules (in
this Schedule referred to as “the system”) shall in relation to the spaces specified in the column
(2) of Table I, be capable of the respective standards of performance, specified columns (3) or
(4) of that Table whichever standard shall be the higher in the circumstances:
Provided that nothing in Table I shall be taken to relate to a space specified in the column
(2) of Table II.
2. The system shall, in relation to the spaces specified in the column (2) of the Table II, be
capable of the respective standards of performance specified in the columns (3) and (4) of
Table (II).
3. If any store room is served by a fan which provides warmed air for any other spaces, the store
room shall be provided with ventilation trunking separate from that serving such other space.
4. The clear area of the exhaust openings provided in conjunction with the system shall be
sufficient to ensure that the velocity of air at each exhaust opening does not exceed 5.08
metres per second when the system is in operation.
5. The speed of every supply fan forming part of the system shall be capable of being varied.
6. The system shall be quiet in operation.
7. All trunking forming part of the system shall be provided with non-return flaps where such
flaps are necessary for the exclusion of effluvia and the preservation of the health of the
seafarer.
8. If the system is designed to circulate heated air as the sole means of heating the seafarer
accommodation, the system shall be sub-divided into sections which can be separately
controlled to the extent necessary to enable a comfortable temperature to be maintained in all
parts of the seafarer accommodation.
56
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II-SEC. 3(i)]
TABLE I
Category | Space | Fresh air changes per hour | Volume of fresh air for each person likely to use the room at any one time (m³/min)
(1) | (2) | (3) | (4)
A | Spaces other than those in category (C) in deck houses above the upper or shelter deck:- | |
| (1) outside rooms (other than rooms adjoining machinery casing) | 10 | 1.42
| (2) inside rooms and rooms adjoining machinery casing | 15 | 1.42
B | Spaces other than those in category (C) in side-to-side superstructures above the upper or shelter deck: | |
| (1) outside rooms (other than rooms adjoining machinery casing | 12 | 1.42
| (2) inside rooms and rooms adjoining machinery casing | 15 | 1.42
C | Mess rooms, smoking rooms and recreation rooms (in each case above the upper or shelter decks): | |
| (1) not adjoining machinery casing | 15 | 0.71*
| (2) adjoining machinery casing | 18 | 0.71*
D | Passageways adjoining machinery casings | 4 |
E | Rooms in between decks (including shelter between decks) of ships propelled by internal combustion machinery | |
| (1) Rooms clear of machinery casing | 12 | 1.42
| (2) Rooms abreast of but not adjoining machinery casing | 12 | 1.42
| (3) Rooms adjoining machinery casing (other than mess rooms, smoking rooms and recreation rooms) | 15 | 1.70
| (4) Mess rooms, smoking rooms, and recreation rooms (in each case adjoining machinery casing) | 18 | 0.71
57
F | Rooms in tween decks (including shelter tween decks) of steamships:- | |
| (1) Rooms clear of machinery casing | 12 | 1.42
| (2) Rooms abreast of, but not adjoining machinery casing. | 15 | 1.70
| (3) Rooms immediately above machinery casing or abreast of and adjoining machinery casing (other than mess rooms, smoking rooms and recreation rooms) | 18 | 1.70
| (4) Mess room, smoking rooms and recreation rooms (in each case adjoining machinery casing) | 20 | 0.85**
* | whatever the number of persons likely to use the room at one time, the total volume of fresh air per minute shall not be required to be such as would result in more than 20 fresh air changes per hour.
** | whatever the number of persons likely to use the room at any one time, the total volume of fresh air per minute shall not be required to be such as would result in more than 24 fresh air changes per hour.
58
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II-SEC. 3(i)]
TABLE II
Category | Space | Fresh air change per hour |
| | Supply | Exhaust
(1) | (2) | (3) | (4)
G | Galleys | 20 (a)(b) | 40(b)
H | Sanitary accommodation, drying rooms and pantries | 10 | 20
J | Wards in permanent hospitals | 12 or such greater number as would result in the supply of not less than 1.42 cubic metres of fresh air per minute for each bed in the room. | --
K | Dry provision store rooms | Not less than 10(c) and not more than 20 | --
(a) if at least two sides of the galley are exposed to the weather.
(b) The Central Government may exempt any ship from these requirements to the extent that it
is satisfied that compliance therewith is unnecessary by reason of the insulation of the
equipment in the galley, or by reason of the size of the galley.
59
Schedule III
(See rule 4, sub-paragraph (12) of Paragraph I of Schedule I)
1. Marking for Sleeping Rooms
Certified for (*) seafarer(s)
2. Marking for Spaces other than Sleeping Rooms
Certified for [Chief Officer]/[Master]/ [Chief Engineer]/[**]
Certified for (*) officers.
Certified for (*) [ratings]/ [petty officer].
(*) There shall here be inserted the maximum number of officers/seafarers who may be
accommodated in the room in accordance with these rules.
(**) In the case of a room intended for the sole use of any other officer the rank of that officer
shall here be substituted.
60
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY
Schedule IV- Electric Lighting
[See rule 4 and paragraph 3 of Schedule I]
[PART II-SEC. 3(i)]
Definition: “General Measurement Points” means, in relation to any space those points which
measured at a height of 850mm above the floor fall on an imaginary line drawn vertically through
the following points:-
• every point mid way between every 2 adjacent lamp in that space:
• every point mid way between and lamp and any position on the boundary of that space to
which that lamp is nearer than any other lamp, and
• where any part of the space available for free movement is shielded from the direct rays of
a lamp by a re-entrant angle formed in the boundary of that space the central point of the
space so shielded.
A) Sleeping Room and Day Room:
(1) At general measurement points | 50 lux
(2) At every Mirror | 200 lux
(3) At every seat at a writing deck or table | 150 lux
(4) At not less than half the seats (other than those mentioned in (3) above) in a sleeping room provided for use of more than one person | 150 lux
B) Mess Room
(1) At general measurement points | 100 lux
(2) At every table and sink | 150 lux
C) Recreational Rooms (including for watching films and television hobbies, and games room):
(1) At general measurement points | 50 lux
(2) At every recreational table | 100 lux
(3) At every seat at a writing deck or table | 150 lux
(4) At not less than half the seats (other than those mentioned in (3) above) | 150 lux
D) Hospital
(1) At general measurement points | 50 lux
(2) At any wash room | 200 lux
(3) At least one fixed lamp shall be installed in addition to the electric reading lamp required by sub-para (2) of para (3) to be provided at the head of each bed. | 150 lux
E) Offices and Studies
(1) At general measurement points | 100 lux
(2) At every seat at writing desk or table | 200 lux
F) Sanitary Accommodation (including sanitary accommodation in hospital):
(1) At general measurement points | 50 lux
(2) At every Mirror | 200 lux
61
G) Laundries
(1) At general measurement points | 100 lux
H) Drying Room:
(1) At the center of spaces | 50 lux
I) Galley (including bakeries and pantries:
(1) At working positions | 300 lux
The light shall be so disposed as to ensure that shelves and cupboards receive the maximum amount o flight |
J) Dry Provision Store Room and Cold Store Room:
(1) At general measurement points | 100 lux
The light shall be so disposed as to ensure that shelves and cupboards receive the maximum amount o flight |
K) Passage ways companionways and covered deck recreation spaces:
(1) At general measurement points | 50 lux
A light shall be placed –
(a) at the head of each stairway, ladder and hatchway, and
(b) at or near the lockers provided for oilskins or working clothes.
62
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY
[PART II-SEC. 3(i)]
Form 1- Certificate of Seafarer Accommodation
[See rule 6 (1)]
CERTIFICATE OF SEAFARER ACCOMODATION
Certificate No.
Issued under the provisions of the
Merchant Shipping (Seafarer Accommodation), Rules, 2026.
Under the authority of the Government of India
Name of Ship | Distinctive Number or Call Sign | IMO Number | Port of Registry | gross tonnage | Date Keel Laid*
Type of Ship | : |
Area of Operation | : | Unlimited / Restricted (see Remarks)
This is to certify that the seafarer accommodation and other associated spaces of the above ship
has been surveyed in accordance with sub-rule (1) of rule 5 of the Merchant Shipping (Seafarer
Accommodation) Rules, 2026, and MLC 2006, and found that that the ship is in compliance with
the provisions of those Rules.
The accommodation arrangements are adequate for a maximum of ........ seafarers, as indicated
below.
Master | : | persons
Officer | : | persons
Petty Officers | : | persons
Ratings | : | persons
Total | : | persons
Exemptions granted if any:
REMARKS:
Issued at | on the
Name and designation of the Issuing Authority | Signature of Issuing Authority
[F. No. SY-19014/197/2025-MG-Part(3)]
MUKESH MANGAL, Addl. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054. SARVESH KUMAR
SRIVASTAVA Date: 2026 07.16 03:06:06+0530
Login to read full text