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52
A few examples of the minimum space per head in cubic feet for comparison
with that allowed to seamen will be interesting:—
Cubic feet,
per head.
Seamen's quarters 72
Common lodging-houses, sleeping rooms 300
Rooms occupied by night only 300
Registered lodging-houses, rooms occupied by day and
night 400
Non-textile work-rooms, during work-time 400
Army barracks 600
Cows in cow-sheds 800
To improve the condition of seamen's accommodation on board vessels the
following requirements are necessary:—
1. An increase in the available cubic space.
2. An increase in the available floor space.
3. More efficient ventilation.
4. Sufficient light, natural and artificial.
5. Thorough insulation of bare iron.
6. A separate room for meals and recreation.
7. A wash-house.
The instructions issued by the Board of Trade to their Surveyors with
reference to masters and crew spaces, would, if strictly carried out, materially
improve the conditions under which many seamen have to live.
I would, however, take this opportunity of pointing out one or two weak
places.
It appears that any barge employed on a river can be either registered or
re-registered in the United Kingdom, without any inspection of the crew
spaces on behalf of the Board of Trade, thus evading the provisions of the
Canal Boats Acts and Regulations.
Further, that any vessel of whatever class or kind may, provided the owner
is willing to forego any allowance from the registered tonnage on account of
crew spaces, be registered under the Merchant Shipping Act, provided the
Surveyor gives a certificate that he has inspected the crew spaces, notwithstanding
the result of such inspection might not be satisfactory.