(a) On first commissioning by the commanding officers of ships.
(b) On subsequent occasions by the commanding officers of ships in commission when any changes occur to available accommodation as a result of large repairs, modernization, conversion, or other causes
(c) Three copies of the return shall be forwarded through the administrative Authority to the chief of the naval staff and a copy is to be inserted in the Captain’s. Ship’s Book
2729. Messing of Ship’s Company. (1) Within the overriding proviso that available mess deck space is equitably distributed to provide the best possible habitability conditions, sailors are to be messed and accommodated according to branches, except than Master Chief Petty Officers / Chief Petty Officers and Petty Officers of all branches will be messed and accommodated separately in enclosed messes according to their rank, wherever practicable as also the Regulating sailors who will be provided with a separate mess.
(2) (a) Wherever practicable, Junior Commissioned officers of the Army, Master Warrant officers, Warrant officers, and Junior Warrant officers of the Air Force shall, when embarked in Indian Naval Ship for any purpose, be messed with Master Chief Petty officers/Chief Petty officers, and the non-commission officers, viz. Dafadars and Havildars of the Army and Sergents of the Air Force, with the Petty officers.
(b) L/Dafadars and Naiks, and men of the Army, Corporals and Aircraftsmen of the Air Force shall, when embarked in Indian Naval Ships, for any Purpose be messed with sailors other than Master Chief Petty officers/Chief Petty officers/Petty officers according to the availability of space in sailors’ messes.
(c) The commanding officer, may at his discretion, arrange for the common messing at I.N.scale of rations, of Army and Air Force personnel, with the ship’s company, in a ship or shore establishment.
(3) The President of the Master Chief Petty officers’ mess or Chief Petty officers’ mess or petty officers’ mess will be the senior most Master Chief Petty officer, Chief Petty officer or Petty officer accommodated in the mess, not being borne ‘additional’ or for training only unless the Captain, for good and sufficient reasons, should specifically nominate another Master Chief Petty officer, Chief Petty officer or Petty officer.
(4) Sailors below petty officers shall mess together in broadside mess.
(5) In ships and shore establishments where the strict application of the above regulations is not found to be practicable, the rules contained in this regulation shall be applied so far as the accommodation provided admits. Commanding officers are to use their discretion in the allocation of messes so that the accommodation available in the ship or establishment is always used to the best advantage. Commanding officers of trooping ships shall use their direction in re-arranging and grouping messes, according to the number of each class requesting passage
2730. Mess man. A sufficient number of suitable junior sailors shall be attached as mess men to all Master Chief Petty officers, Chief Petty officers or Petty officers messes. On board submarines the Captain may resort to cafeteria system for senior sailors in case there is a shortage of junior sailors in case there is a shortage of junior sailors for performing Mess men duties.
2731.Meal Hours. (1) Adequate time must be set aside for meals to be taken, the actual time allowed for each meal being arranged by the Commanding officer according to the circumstances. Subject to the exigencies of the Service, 2 ½ hours shall be allowed for meals between the time sailors go to breakfast and 1800 hrs. In addition, half an hour shall be allowed for supper. The period of 2 ½ hours may include time spent in changing in to the rig of the day and shifting in to night clothing.
(2) A commissioned officer detailed by the commanding officer shall visit the mess decks during the serving of meals to confirm that the food is of good quality and properly cooked and to see whether there are any complaints. He should personally taste the food and deal with any general complaint in the normal service manner.
2732. Watch-keepers. (1) Arrangements shall be included in the routine of each ship to enable the watch-keepers to obtain adequate meal hours of the same length as those of the ship’s company, and for hot meals to be served to them.
(2) Subject to the internal organization of the ship, the middle watch keepers at sea and first and middle watch keepers in harbor may be permitted to lie in until such time as up guard and steerage is piped.
2733.Civilians when Carried in Indian Navy Sea-going Ships. (1) Non-Gazetted civilian government servants, civilian staff of the Indian Naval canteen Service, etc… when carried shall be provided with sleeping accommodation and messed with sailors.
(2) For accommodation and messing of civilian gazetted officers see regulation 2724(2)
2734. Consumption of Liquor in MCPOs/Pos Messes Ashore. MCPOs/CPOs/Pos are permitted to consume Liquor in their respective messes ashore.
(a)Bar Hours. The days and times for opening the bar will be laid down by the Administrative Authorities subject to the condition that in the evening the closing time of the bar should not be later than half an hour before ‘Pipe Down’ except on special occasions as approved by the Commanding officer.
(b)Treating. Treating as between members of the mess is forbidden, however, service guests are allowed and the individual quota of a member is not to be exceeded in the entertainment of the service guest.
(c)Monetary Limits. It would be up to the mess concerned to decide whether issue of Liquor is to be restricted to only living –in-members and to such other living out members who surrender there privilege of drawing their liquor from Indian Naval Canteen Service canteens. The monetary limits will be as promulgated by the chief of the Naval Staff from time to time
(d) Mode of payment. By cash /coupon or card system. No credit is to be permitted.
(e) Supervision. A mess Committee constituted as under is to be is jointly responsible to the commanding officer: -
(i) The Executive officer.
(ii) Senior most Living-in-member.
(iii) Mess Secretary.
(iv) Wine Secretary.
(f) Accounting and Audit. The necessary books and accounts are to be maintained and audited by the audit boards appointed by the commanding officer at regular intervals as lay down by the Administrative Authority.
CHAPTER 28 CANTEENS AND NON-PUBLIC FUNDS Section Regulations I. Canteens 2801 – 2810 II. Non-Public Funds 2811 – 2819 SECTION I – CANTEENS
2801. Establishment of Canteens.
(1)(a) As a general rule a canteen shall be established in each of the Indian Naval ships for the use of its personnel. Accommodation for canteen staff and stores will be specifically allocated and marked on the Ship’s drawings. Where necessary, the Captain may allocate additional accommodation if available.
(b) Should the Captain, for any reason, consider it inadvisable to establish a canteen he shall make a full report of the circumstances to the Chief of the Naval Staff, through Administrative Authority who will transmit it to the Chief of the Naval Staff, with an expression of his opinion thereon.
(2) The regulations contained in sub-regulation (1) do not apply to minor war vessels in which suitable space for a canteen is not available or which do not go to sea regularly. If desired by the Captain of such vessel, special arrangements shall be made by the Captain of the parent ship to which such vessel is attached, for their supplies.
2802. (1) The Government of India does not accept responsibility for the business conducted by canteens. The Captain shall ensure that this is understood by all with whom the canteen conducts business.
(2) Operation of Canteens. The canteen shall operate as a business concern only, subject to such instructions as may be issued by the Chief of the Naval Staff from time to time. The Canteen may operate coffee/tea/coco bars, ice cream bars, soda fountains, book stalls, hair dressings, boot repairs, tailoring and private trading generally.