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Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)

Regulations

Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations, 2026

Part 1

Chapter I : General

16. Berth

 

(1) Every sleeping room in the crew accommodation must be provided with berth and where a room is occupied by more than one person in terms of regulation 15(1)(d), each person accommodated in the room must be provided with a berth in accordance with standard A 3.1 paragraph 9(e) of the Maritime Labour Convention.

 

(2)

(a) The framework of each berth, and the leeboards or lee-rails thereof if any, must be constructed of metal or other material which is hard and smooth and unlikely to become corroded.
(b) The framework of the berth in paragraph (a) must be so made as not to be likely to harbour vermin.
(c) In particular, if the berth in paragraph (a) is constructed with tubular frames, the frames must be completely sealed and without perforations.

 

(3) There must be unobstructed access to at least one side of each berth and in particular, if the adjacent sides of two berths in the same room are parallel to each other or when projected make an angle of Jess than 90° with each other, the distance between those sides at any point must not be less than 762 mm if both berths are in single tier or 914 mm in any other case.

 

(4) Where berth abut upon each other the berth must be separated by screens made of wood or other suitable material.

 

(5) A berth must not be placed—
(a) within 100 mm of a ventilation trunk which may be used for circulating hot air; or
(b) within 50 mm of a bulkhead or the vessel's side, unless the berth is so supported and the room so constructed as to avoid harbouring dirt and vermin in or near the berth, to enable the bedding to be kept clean and dry, and to minimise the soiling of paintwork in way of the berth.

 

(6) Berths must not be arranged in tiers of more than two.

 

(7) Berths placed along the vessel's side must be in single tier, except in a room in which there is no side scuttle: Provided the Authority may exempt any vessel from the requirements of this subregulation to the extent to which the Authority is satisfied that the berths in the sleeping room are clear of side scuttles and that the comfort of the crew will thereby be increased.

 

(8) A berth must not be less than 300 mm from the floor of the room measured from the bottom of the mattress.
(a) Berths should not be arranged in tiers of more than two and in the case of berths placed along the vessel's side, there should be only a single tier where a sidelight is situated above a berth.
(b) The lower berth in a double tier should be not less th n 300 mm above the floor and the upper berth should be placed approximately midway between the bottom of the lower berth and the lower side of the deckhead beams.