{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-crew-accommodation-regulations-1997/regulation-21",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-crew-accommodation-regulations-1997/regulation-21.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1997/1508",
  "legislation_title": "The Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations 1997",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-crew-accommodation-regulations-1997",
  "path": "regulation/21",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "21",
  "heading": "Furniture and fittings in sleeping rooms",
  "text": "(1) Every sleeping room shall be so planned and equipped as to ensure reasonable comfort for the occupants and to facilitate tidiness.\n(2) Sleeping rooms for ratings shall be provided with the following minimum equipment—\n(a) for each occupant of the room—\n(i) a clothes locker or wardrobe which shall be at least 1.7 metres high and have an internal sectional area of at least 0.2 square metres; the locker or wardrobe shall be fitted with a shelf not less than 230 millimetres and not more than 380 millimetres below its top, with a rod for clothes hangers and with a secure lock or hasp for a padlock;\n(ii) a drawer having a capacity of at least 0.056 cubic metres;\n(iii) a comfortable seat;\n(iv) at least one coat hook in addition to any coat hooks which may be fitted in a locker or wardrobe;\n(b) a table or desk or a sliding leaf or top fitted to a chest of drawers and suitable for writing at;\n(c) a mirror, a cabinet for toilet requisites, a razor socket and strip light fixed on or adjacent to such mirror and cabinet;\n(d) a book rack;\n(e) a curtain, blind or jalousie for each sidescuttle or window;\n(f) a curtain fitted to each berth, unless the room accommodates only one person;\n(g) in ships of under 25,000 tons, a carpet runner at the side of each bed or tiers of beds as the case may be;\n(h) in ships of 5,000 tons or over other than passenger ships, a washbasin, unless a washbasin is fitted in a private or semi-private bathroom provided for the occupants of that sleeping room; and\n(i) a splash back plate or other means of protection for the wall above the washbasin (if any).\n(3) Every sleeping room for a petty officer shall be provided with the following minimum equipment in addition to the equipment specified in paragraph (2)—\n(a) a second drawer having a capacity of at least 0.056 cubic metres;\n(b) a rack suitable for holding—\n(i) a tumbler; and\n(ii) one drinking water bottle, except in a sleeping room in which a supply of drinking water is laid on.\n(4) In every sleeping room in which more than one rating is accommodated, every drawer shall be fitted with a secure lock or hasp for a padlock.\n(5) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (6), every sleeping room for an officer shall be provided with the following minimum equipment—\n(a) a wardrobe which shall be at least 1.68 metres high and have an internal sectional area of at least 0.30 square metres;\n(b) at least three drawers having a total capacity of 0.28 cubic metres;\n(c) a chair with arm rests;\n(d) at least two coat hooks in addition to any coat hook which may be fitted in the wardrobe;\n(e) (i) a settee at least 1.83 metres long; or\n(ii) if such a settee cannot be accommodated in the room without inconveniencing the occupant, a fully upholstered easy chair with closed arms;\n(f) a writing desk fitted with drawers additional to those specified in subparagraph (b);\n(g) (i) a book case if the room accommodates a Chief Officer or Chief or Second Engineer in any ship, or a First Radio Officer in a passenger ship; or\n(ii) a book case or book rack if the room accommodates some other officer;\n(h) a curtain, blind or jalousie fitted to each sidescuttle or window;\n(i) a mirror suitable for toilet purposes;\n(j) a cabinet for toilet requisites with a razor socket and strip light fixed on or adjacent to it or to the mirror;\n(k) a rack suitable for holding—\n(i) a tumbler; and\n(ii) a drinking water bottle, except in a sleeping room in which a supply of drinking water is laid on;\n(l) in ships of 5,000 tons or over other than passenger ships, a washbasin, unless a washbasin is fitted in a private or semi-private bathroom provided for the occupant of that sleeping room;\n(m) a splash back plate or other means of protection for the wall above the washbasin (if any).\n(6) Any of the equipment referred to in paragraph (5)(e), (f) and (g) may, instead of being provided in the officer’s sleeping room, be provided in a day room appropriated for his exclusive use.\n(7) Any of the equipment referred to in paragraphs (2)(c), (3)(b) or (5)(j), (k) and (l) may, instead of being provided in a sleeping room accommodating one person, be provided in a private bathroom appropriated for his use.\n(8) Sleeping rooms for cadets shall so far as is reasonably practicable be provided with the equipment required by paragraph (5) to be provided for officers, provided that any of the equipment referred to in paragraph (5)(e), (f) and (g) may, instead of being provided in the cadet’s sleeping room, be provided in a day room or study appropriated for the exclusive use of cadets.\n(9) No locker intended to contain food shall be fitted in any sleeping room.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/1508/regulation/21",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T12:07:04.043393+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}