TNAG-2817-FCO40-4063-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Sino-British-Joint-Liaison-Group-sub-gro-1993 — Page 34

Convention No. 92: Accommodation of Crews (Revised). 1949

031/11.

Direct request 1993

United Kingdom (ratification: 1953)

Article 1(5) of the Convention. The Committee notes the information

· provided in reply to its earlier comments concerning variations in the requirements of Part III of the Convention: these concern certain aspects of mess rooms (Article 11) and the situation of sleeping rooms below the load line (Articles 9(1) and 10(1)). The variations were made after consulting organizations of shipowners and seafarers and the corresponding advantages were a better layout and provision for the crew.

Article 5. The Committee notes the Government's reply to its previous comment, pointing out that earlier legislation for compulsory inspection on registration or re-registration or when crew accommodation has been substantially altered or reconstructed, in accordance with Article

Article 5(a) and (b), had been repealed. The Government points to section 20(2)(c) of the 1970 Merchant Shipping Act, which enables regulations authorizing inspection to be made. The Government refers further to section 1.8 of the Department of Transport's Instructions for the guidance of surveyors relating to the Survey of Crew Accommodation in Merchant Ships, which states that the surveyor should carry out inspections in terms of Article 5. The Government also indicates that an inspection is carried out on every occasion mentioned in Article 5(a) and (b). The Committee recalls that, under Article 3 of the Convention, the important requirements of Article 5 paragraph (c) of which requires inspection also on receipt of a complaint from

from crew members or on their behalf have to be applied by laws or regulations; the earlier legislation having been repealed, no regulations have been issued under section 20(2)(c) of the 1970 Act; nor does section 1.8 of the Instructions apparently have the necessary mandatory wording or legal force. It therefore hopes the Government will indicate the further measures taken or proposed in this respect. It hopes also the information and documentation on inspection and practical application requested under Parts III and V of the report form will be supplied.

Article 10(7). The Committee notes the indications in the first report on Convention No. 133, Article 10. It hopes that any reduction in headroom of sleeping accommodation authorized under section 6(4) of the Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations, 1978, as amended in 1989, will bear in mind that room should not be less than 190 cm.

(The Government is asked

to report in detail for the period ending

30 June 1994.]

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