The Court thinks that in general, the design of slab sided vessels should be discouraged. Consideration should be given to whether such sills should be higher, say 600 mm. Athwartships doors should be provided at recognised intervals; and thought should be given to providing access to them with the ship at significant angles of heel, say in excess of 20". Additionally, it is a matter of some concern that passengers should be able to recognise readily escape routes and doors allowing exit athwartships from these long passenger compartments. Prominent labelling of decks, exits, lifejacket stows and muster stations is important. The Court considers that designers and the Department should give attention to these matters. Nevertheless such a door should be kept shut at sea and not used as an escape route. This is a matter which should be implemented immediately. Furthermore, there should be immediately a general safety audit of means of escape from passenger compartments below bulkhead decks in existing ships to ensure that:- (a) they comply with the relevant Passenger Ship Regulations, and (b) that the Regulations themselves are being applied properly and rigorously. A single means of escape from spaces below the bulkhead deck is dangerous. Supplementary escapes should take into account the possibility that collision damage or submergence may render them useless.