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4. All ships trading regularly to or in the tropics and the Persian Gulf shall be equipped with awnings for use over exposed decks above crew accommodation and over recreation deck space or spaces. Article 16 1. In the case of the ships mentioned in paragraph 5 of Article 10 the competent authority may, in respect of the members of the crew there referred to, modify the requirements laid down in the foregoing Articles as far as may be necessary to take account of their distinctive national habits and customs and in particular may make special arrangements concerning the number of persons occupying sleeping rooms and concerning mess room and sanitary facilities. 2. In modifying the said requirements the competent authority shall be bound by the specifications set forth in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 10 and by the minimum sleeping space requirements prescribed for such groups of ratings in paragraph 5 of Article 10.^ 3. In ships in which the crew in any department are persons of widely different national habits and customs, separate and appropriate sleeping and living accommodation shall be provided as may be necessary to meet the requirements of the different groups. 4. In the case of the ships mentioned in paragraph 5 of Article 10 the hospital, dining, bathing and sanitary facilities shall be provided and maintained on a standard,, in regard to their quantity and practical usefulness, equal or comparable to that which obtains aboard all other ships of similar type and belonging to the same registry. 5. The competent authority shall, when framing special regulations under this Article, consult the recognized bona fide trade unions of seafarers concerned and the organizations of shipowners and/or the shipowners employing them. Article 17 v 1. Crew accommodation shall be maintained in a clean and decently habitable condition and shall be kept free of goods and stores not the personal property of the occupants. 2. The master, or an officer specially deputed for the purpose by him, accompanied by one or more members of the crew, shall inspect all crew accommodation at intervals of not more than one week. The results of each such inspection shall be recorded. Part IV. —Application of Convention to Existing Ships Article 18 1. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article, this Convention applies to ships the keels of which are laid down subsequent to the coming into force of the Convention for the territory of registration. 2. In the case of a ship which is fully complete on the date of the coming into force of this Convention for the territory of registration and which is below the standard set by Part 111 of this Convention, the competent authority may, after consultation with the organizations of shipowners and/or the shipowners and with the bona fide trade unions of seafarers, require such alterations for the purpose of bringing the ship into conformity with the requirements of the Convention as it deems possible, having regard to the practical problems involved, to be made when — (a) The ship is reregistered ; (b) Substantial structural alterations or major repairs are made to the vessel as a result of long-range plans and not as a result of an accident or emergency. 3. In the case of a ship in the process of building and/or reconversion on the date of the coming into force of this Convention for the territory of registration, the competent authority may, after consultation with the organizations of shipowners and/or the ship-

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