scope:

Foreword: One unique aspect of the maritime industry is that workers are often required to live at their workplaces (i.e., on board ship). While this aspect is shared with some other industries like offshore oil and gas, the conditions that the mariner may be subjected to are unique and under some circumstances, the conditions may even be considered harsh. In addition to crew members being required to live away from home for extended periods, the crew may also be subjected to ship motions such as pitching, rolling and slamming as well as less than favorable ambient environmental conditions involving vibrations, noise, lighting and temperatures. Each of these aspects can take a toll on the daily performance of crew members. Indeed such conditions may affect human performance by increasing physical and mental fatigue and this may lead to an increase in human errors.

Two of the most influential factors for enhancing human performance and reducing human errors are facility design and ambient environmental conditions. The quality of the accommodations where ships' crews sleep, eat and relax can influence mariner job performance and overall sense of comfort and well-being. The type, quality and quantity of the various ambient environmental conditions that mariners are subjected to can have a positive or negative effect on the crew. As a result, ABS has produced this Guide for Crew Habitability on Ships for the maritime industry in order to provide a comprehensive set of habitability criteria. The subjects of this Guide and their associated criteria have been chosen to provide a means to improve crew performance and on board conditions that will enhance crew retention.

In the present context, "habitability" is defined as the acceptability of conditions on-board a ship in terms of vibration, noise, indoor climate and lighting as well as physical and spatial characteristics, according to prevailing research and standards for human efficiency and comfort.

This Guide provides the assessment criteria and describes the measurement methodology for obtaining a Habitability notation. It is intended for use by vessel owners or companies requesting the optional notations of Habitability (HAB) or Habitability Plus (HAB+). For the Habitability (HAB) level, this Guide focuses on five (5) categories of habitability criteria that can affect task performance and may be controlled, measured and assessed in crew spaces and open deck recreation areas of ships. These categories are as follows: accommodations design, whole-body vibration, noise, indoor climate and lighting. For the Habitability Plus (HAB+) level, this Guide provides more stringent accommodations, vibration and indoor climate criteria aimed at increasing crew comfort. To be awarded the Habitability (HAB) or Habitability Plus (HAB+) notation, a vessel must meet all the appropriate criteria across the various habitability categories. Meeting the criteria of this Guide will also fulfill the physical design (but not the procedural or managerial) requirements as contained in International Labor Organization (ILO) Conventions 92 and 133 except where additional Flag Administration requirements exist.

The ABS Guide for Crew Habitability on Ships focuses on evaluation criteria and measurement methodologies specific to awarding the optional ABS Habitability notation. In addition, a separate guide, the ABS Guide for Passenger Comfort on Ships, has been issued for the assessment of passenger comfort on ships.