FLT TIME LIMITATIONS WITH RELATIONSHIP TO ONBOARD CREW REST FACILITIES WAS QUESTIONED BY AN ACR CARGO RELIEF PLT IN RJOO; FO.

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I WAS THE RELIEF FO ON THIS FLT FROM OSAKA; JAPAN; TO OAKLAND; CA. THE SCHEDULED BLOCK TIME GREATER THAN 8 HRS REQUIRED A CREW OF 3 PLTS AND A CREW REST AREA. ON OUR ACFT (AN MD11) THE CREW REST AREA CONTAINED 2 COURIER SEATS OFF OF THE FLT DECK BULKHEAD. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE ACFT; THE RELEASE DOCUMENT INDICATED A MAINT WRITE-UP DEEMING THE 2 COURIER SEATS INOP (MEL). THIS WRITE-UP; WE THOUGHT; TECHNICALLY INDICATED WE HAD NO CREW REST AREA FOR THE FLT. (THE CAPT INDICATED HE KNEW OF A SIT WHERE A PLT WAS FIRED FOR BREAKING A CREW REST FAR -- ONE THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T SPEND MORE THAN 8 CONTINUOUS HRS IN THE COCKPIT.) SINCE WE DIDN'T HAVE AN FAR ON BOARD; WE COULD NOT QUOTE THE EXACT REG. ANYWAY; WE DISCUSSED THIS INFO WITH AIRLINE OPS AND THE DUTY OFFICER. THEY TOLD THE CAPT THAT WE 'CAN' CREW REST IN THE COCKPIT; ALTHOUGH THEY COULD NOT CITE A SPECIFIC REG. AIRLINE 'FORCED' US TO ACCEPT THEIR INTERP OF 'CREW REST' FACILITY AND TAKE THE PLANE AS SCHEDULED. AFTER DEMANDING AND RECEIVING A WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM THE DUTY OFFICER AUTHORIZING US TO PROCEED; WE FLEW TO OAKLAND AS SCHEDULED WITHOUT INCIDENT.