Section 176: Regulations relating to crew accommodation

(1)
The Minister may make regulations with respect to crew accommodation which shall be provided on board a Nigerian ship.
(2)
Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of this section, regulations made under this section may in particular:
(a)
prescribe the minimum space per man which shall be provided by way of sleeping accommodation for seamen and the maximum number of persons by whom a specified part of the sleeping accommodation may be used;
(b)
regulate the positions in the ship in which the crew accommodation or any part of the accommodation may be located and the standards to be observed in the construction, equipment and furnishing of the accommodation;
(c)
require the submission to a surveyor of ships, of plans and specifications of any works proposed to be carried out for the purpose of the provision or alteration of any accommodation under this section and authorise the surveyor to inspect any such works; and
(d)
provide for the maintenance and repair of any accommodation under this section and prohibit or restrict the use of any accommodation for purposes other than those for which the accommodation is designed.
(3)
Regulations made under this section may-
(a)
make different provisions with respect to different descriptions of ships or with respect to ships which were registered in Nigeria at different dates and with respect to crew accommodation provided for seamen of different descriptions;
(b)
exempt ships of any description from any requirements of the regulations made under the Act and the Minister may grant other exemptions from the requirements with respect to any ship; and
(c)
require the master of a ship or any officer authorised by him for that purpose to carry out such inspection of the crew accommodation as may be prescribed by the regulations.
(4)
A person who contravenes any of the provisions of the regulations made under this section commits an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than one hundred thousand Naira.
(5)
Regulations under this section may exempt ships of any description from any requirements of the regulations made under this Act and the Minister may grant other exemptions from the requirement with respect to any ship.