
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 46USC11101]

 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
                     Subtitle II--Vessels and Seamen
 
              Part G--Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief
 
                   CHAPTER 111--PROTECTION AND RELIEF
 
Sec. 11101. Accommodations for seamen

    (a) On a merchant vessel of the United States the construction of 
which began after March 4, 1915 (except a yacht, pilot vessel, or vessel 
of less than 100 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this 
title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this 
title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this 
title)--
        (1) each place appropriated to the crew of the vessel shall have 
    a space of at least 120 cubic feet and at least 16 square feet, 
    measured on the floor or deck of that place, for each seaman or 
    apprentice lodged in the vessel;
        (2) each seaman shall have a separate berth and not more than 
    one berth shall be placed one above another;
        (3) the place or berth shall be securely constructed, properly 
    lighted, drained, heated, and ventilated, properly protected from 
    weather and sea, and, as far as practicable, properly shut off and 
    protected from the effluvium of cargo or bilge water; and
        (4) crew space shall be kept free from goods or stores that are 
    not the personal property of the crew occupying the place in use 
    during the voyage.

    (b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this 
section, a merchant vessel of the United States that in the ordinary 
course of trade makes a voyage of more than 3 days' duration between 
ports and carries a crew of at least 12 seamen shall have a hospital 
compartment, suitably separated from other spaces. The compartment shall 
have at least one bunk for each 12 seamen constituting the crew (but not 
more than 6 bunks may be required).
    (c) A steam vessel of the United States operating on the Mississippi 
River or its tributaries shall provide, under the direction and approval 
of the Secretary, an appropriate place for the crew that shall conform 
to the requirements of this section, as far as they apply to the steam 
vessel, by providing a properly heated sleeping room in the engineroom 
of the steam vessel properly protected from the cold, wind, and rain by 
means of suitable awnings or screens on either side of the guards or 
sides and forward, reaching from the boiler deck to the lower or main 
deck.
    (d) A merchant vessel of the United States, the construction of 
which began after March 4, 1915, having more than 10 seamen on deck, 
shall have at least one lighted, clean, and properly heated and 
ventilated washing place. There shall be provided at least one washing 
outfit for each 2 seamen of the watch. A separate washing place shall be 
provided for the fireroom and engineroom seamen, if their number is more 
than 10, that shall be large enough to accommodate at least one-sixth of 
them at the same time, and have a hot and cold water supply and a 
sufficient number of washbasins, sinks, and shower baths.
    (e) Forecastles shall be fumigated at intervals provided by 
regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
with the approval of the Secretary, and shall have at least 2 exits, one 
of which may be used in emergencies.
    (f) The owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, or 
licensed individual of a vessel not complying with this section is 
liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of at least 
$50 but not more than $500.

(Pub. L. 98-89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 577; Pub. L. 99-36, 
Sec. 1(a)(6), May 15, 1985, 99 Stat. 67; Pub. L. 104-324, title VII, 
Sec. 740, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3942.)

                      Historical and Revision Notes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Revised section                Source section (U.S. Code)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11101.............................  46:660-1
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 11101 provides mandatory standards for crew accommodations 
and a penalty for noncompliance with those standards.


                               Amendments

    1996--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104-324 inserted ``as measured under 
section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under 
section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 
14104 of this title'' after ``100 gross tons'' in introductory 
provisions.
    1985--Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99-36 substituted ``lighted'' for 
``light''.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 446b of Appendix to this 
title.
