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MLC 2006 Regulation 3.1 - Seafarer Accommodation and Recreational Facilities


MLC 2006 Regulation 3.1 - Seafarer Accommodation and Recreational Facilities to Ensure that Seafarers have Decent Accommodation and Recreational Facilities On Board


reg 3 1 sefarer accommodation

MLC 2006 Regulation 3.1 deals with career accommodation and recreational facilities for seafarers. The MLC 2006 contains a significant level of technical detail and guidance with respect to standards for on board accommodation and recreational facilities. These provisions, which are directed to flag States, apply to all ships covered by the Convention with some exceptions.

The MLC 2006 requires the adoption of laws and regulations as the legal form for implementing the requirement that ships meet minimum standards to ensure that any accommodation for seafarers working or living on board ship, or both is safe and decent and meets the provisions in Standard A3.1.

The MLC 2006 requires that the competent authority pay particular attention to ensuring implementation of the requirements relating to the size of sleeping rooms and other accommodation spaces, heating and ventilation, noise and vibration and other ambient factors, sanitary and related facilities, lighting and hospital accommodation.

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mlc2006 seafarer accommodation


MLC 2006 Regulation 3.1 Seafarer Accommodation and Recreational Facilities (Summary)


Purpose: To ensure that seafarers have decent accommodation and recreational facilities on board


  • You are entitled to safe and decent living and recreational facilities on board.
  • Flag States have to pass laws and regulations obliging ships flying their flag to comply with a set of standards that must be inspected for compliance.
  • Inspections have to be carried out when a ship is registered, re-registered or when substantial structural changes are made to the accommodation on board.
  • The laws and regulations on accommodation and recreational facilities must also take into account the Convention’s requirements for health and safety protection and accident prevention.
  • When setting standards, particular attention must be given to:

    • The size of rooms and other accommodation spaces
    • Heating and ventilation
    • Noise, vibration and other ambient factors
    • Sanitary facilities
    • Lighting
    • Hospital accommodation


Title 3. Accommodation, Recreational Facilities, Food and Catering

Regulation 3.1; Code Standard A3.1 and Guideline B3.1


MLC 2006 Regulation 3.1 - Accommodation and Recreational Facilities

  1. Each Member shall ensure that ships that fly its flag provide and maintain decent accommodations and recreational facilities for seafarers working or living on board, or both, consistent with promoting the seafarers’ health and well-being.
  2. The requirements in the Code implementing this Regulation which relate to ship construction and equipment apply only to ships constructed on or after the date when this Convention comes into force for the Member concerned. For ships constructed before that date, the requirements relating to ship construction and equipment that are set out in the Accommodation of Crews Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 92), and the Accommodation of Crews (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1970 (No. 133), shall continue to apply to the extent that they were applicable, prior to that date, under the law or practice of the Member concerned. A ship shall be deemed to have been constructed on the date when its keel is laid or when it is at a similar stage of construction.
  3. Unless expressly provided otherwise, any requirement under an amendment to the Code relating to the provision of seafarer accommodation and recreational facilities shall apply only to ships constructed on or after the amendment takes effect for the Member concerned.

Standard A3.1- Accommodation and Recreational Facilities

Regulation 3.1 Standard A3.1 PDF

2022 Amendments to the Code relating to Regulations 3.1 - Accommodation and recreational facilities (Entry into force Dec 23, 2024)

Standard A3.1 - Accommodation and recreational facilities

Replace paragraph 17 by the following:

17. Appropriate seafarers’ recreational facilities, amenities and services, including social connectivity, as adapted to meet the special needs of seafarers who must live and work on ships, shall be provided on board for the benefit of all seafarers, taking into account Regulation 4.3 and the associated Code provisions on health and safety protection and accident prevention.


Guideline B3.1- Accommodation and Recreational Facilities

Regulation 3.1 Guideline B3.1 PDF

2022 Amendments to the Code relating to Regulations 3.1 - Accommodation and recreational facilities (Entry into force Dec 23, 2024)

Guideline B3.1.11 - Recreational facilities, mail and ship visit arrangements

Replace paragraph 4(j) by the following:

(j) reasonable access to ship-to-shore telephone communications, where available, with any charges for the use of these services being reasonable in amount.

Insert new paragraph 8:

8. Shipowners should, so far as is reasonably practicable, provide seafarers on board their ships with internet access, with charges, if any, being reasonable in amount.


Disclaimer: For general information purpose only - please check with ILO MLC 2006 for the latest requirements and accurate info

LAST UPDATED ON Oct 4, 2023