Road Traffic Management Corporation Act, 1999
R 385
Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)RegulationsMerchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations, 2026Part 1Chapter I : General28. Hospitals |
(1)
| (a) | Every vessel, which is intended to be at sea on any occasion for a continuous period of more than 3 days with a crew of 15 or more seafarers, must be provided with a space appropriated for use as a permanent hospital for the crew in accordance with standard A3.1 paragraph 12 and standard A4.1 of the Maritime Labour Convention regarding medical care on board vessels and guideline 83.1 paragraph 8 of the Maritime Labour Convention for hospital accommodation. |
| (b) | The space appropriated for the purpose referred to in paragraph (a)must not at any time be used for any purpose other than for the treatment of sick persons. |
| (c) | The Authority may exempt from the requirement of this subregulation any vessel engaged only on coasting voyages wholly between ports within the Republic. |
(2)
| (a) | In every other vessel other than a vessel referred to in subsection ( 1), a room must be appropriated for use, when necessary, as a temporary hospital. |
| (b) | When a room referred to in paragraph (a) is in use as a hospital, it must not be used for any purpose other than the treatment of sick persons. |
| (c) | The Authority may exempt any vessel from the requirements of this subregulation if the Authority is satisfied that compliance therewith is unnecessary in the circumstances. |
(3)
| (a) | Every hospital whether permanent or temporary must be situated in a position which will ensure the greatest possible comfort for the patient. |
| (b) | The hospital must be readily accessible, and, in the case of a vessel not carrying a duly qualified medical practitioner or duly qualified nurse exclusively so employed as a member of the crew, must be so situated to be conducive to patients receiving prompt and proper attention in all weathers. |
(4)
| (a) | The minimum width of the entrance to every permanent hospital must be 762 mm or as near thereto as is practicable in the circumstances. |
| (b) | The hospital must be so arranged that a stretcher can easily be carried into the hospital and placed alongside at least one single-tier bed therein. |
| (5) | The floor-covering in every permanent hospital must, as far as is practicable be free from joints. |
(6)
| (a) | Every permanent hospital must include hospital accommodation fitted on at least two sides with side scuttles at least 305 mm in diameter: Provided that, if it is not practicable to fit a side scuttle on two sides of the hospital, a sky lightof as large a size as is practicable, may be substituted for a side scuttle on one side of the hospital. |
| (b) | All side scuttles in the hospital, and any skylight therein which is exposed to the direct rays of the sun, must be provided with curtains, or equivalent installation. |
| (c) | The Authority may exempt from the requirements of this subregulation any vessel of under 200 gross tons. |
(7)
| (a) | In addition to any mechanical ventilation required by Regulation 10, every permanent hospital must be provided with adequate natural supply and exhaust ventilation to the open air by means of ventilators independent of the ventilators provided for any other space in the vessel. |
| (b) | The Authority may exempt any vessel from the requirement of this subregulation if the Authority is satisfied that compliance therewith is unreasonable or impracticable in the circumstances. |
| (8) | Every permanent hospital may be provided with an electric fan in addition to being served by a trunked mechanical ventilation system. |
| (9) | Any radiators in a permanent hospital must be installed, as far as is practicable, from the heads of beds. |
| (10) | In addition to the lighting required by regulation 11, every permanent hospital must be provided with a portable electric lamp and with such accessories as are necessary for its use. |
(11)
| (a) | In every vessel which is required by this regulation to be provided with a permanent hospital, at least one single-tier bed must be provided in the hospital for every 50 members of the crew or part thereof. |
| (b) | The Authority may exempt from the requirement of paragraph (a) any vessel carrying more than 300 persons, to the extent to which the Authority is satisfied that compliance therewith is unreasonable or impracticable in the circumstances. |
| (c) | The bed referred to in paragraph (a) must, if practicable, be so arranged as to be accessible from both sides and from the foot. |
| (d) | If any of the beds in the hospital accommodation are arranged in double tiers, the upper tier must be hinged or must be removable. |
| (e) | Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (a) to (d) of this subregulation, the provisions of subregulations (2) to (8) and regulation 16 must apply to hospital beds as they apply to beds in a sleeping room. |
| (12) | In every permanent hospital one of each of the following items of equipment must be provided for each bed in the hospital and must be within reach of that bed: |
| (a) | A locker approximately 305 mm2 by 610 mm high, and fitted with a |
| (b) | flat top and a shelf; |
| (c) | a water bottle; and |
| (d) | a tumbler. |
| (13) | In every permanent hospital the following items of equipment must be provided: |
| (a) | Seats adequate in number, having regard to the number of beds in |
| (b) | the hospital; |
| (c) | a clothes locker additional to that required by subregulation (12) of this regulation, and complying with the specifications set forth in paragraph (a) (ii) of subsection (1) of regulation 17; |
| (d) | a box cover which will conceal a bed-pan; and |
| (e) | electric alarm bell-switch 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 navigation bridge. |
(14)
| (a) | A wash-basin having a capacity of at least 7 litres must be filled in every permanent hospital. |
| (b) | In vessels of 5,000 gross tons or over a bath at least 1.4 m in internal length must be fitted in washing accommodation forming part of the hospital. |
| (c) | The wash-basin and bath must be made of or coated with hygienic and durable material having a smooth and impervious surface not likely to crack, flake or become corroded. |
| (d) | The wash basin must be fitted with an efficient and hygienic discharge system separate, if practicable, from any other discharge system in the vessel and in particular the waste pipes must be fitted in a manner which will facilitate cleaning. |
| (e) | A scupper of at least 50 mm in diameter must be fitted in the lowest part of any room, other than hospital accommodation, which contains such wash-basin or bath. |
| (f) | The Authority may exempt any vessel from the requirement of a bath in the permanent hospital, if the Authority is satisfied that compliance therewith is unreasonable or impracticable in the circumstances. |
(15)
| (a) | A sanitary facility pedestal must be fitted as part of every permanent hospital. |
| (b) | The sanitary facility pedestal must be fitted either in a water closet or in washing accommodation forming part of the hospital. |
| (c) | Access to the sanitary facility pedestal, or washing accommodation as the case may be, must be obtained easily from the bed or from a lobby forming part of the hospital. |
| (d) | The Authority may exempt any vessel from the requirement of paragraph (c) if the Authority is satisfied that compliance therewith is impracticable in the circumstances, and that the sanitary facility forming part of the hospital is situated sufficiently near to the bed. |
| (e) | The room in which the sanitary facility pedestal is installed must be provided with a gas-tight self-closing door unless it is served by a mechanical system of exhaust ventilation, and must be so constructed as to facilitate cleaning and not to harbour dirt or vermin. |
| (f) | The room referred to in paragraph (e) must be ventilated in the manner specified in subregulation (7) of regulation 24. |
| (16) | The Authority may exempt any vessel of under 200 gross tons from any of the requirements of this Regulation. |
| (17) | The permanent hospital medical appliances provided in the vessel for the benefit of the seafarers on board must be as prescribed in the Merchant Shipping (Ship's Medicines and Medical Appliances) Regulations, 1991. |
