The Public Health (Ships) (Amendment) (England) regulations 2007
came into force on 15 June 2007. These regulations amend the Public
Health (Ships) Regulations 1979.
Two changes of note for your information are as
follows:
1. De-ratting Exemption Certificates and
De-ratting Certificates can no longer be issued as they have been
replaced by Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates and Ship
Sanitation Control Certificates. Current de-ratting exemption
certificates and de-ratting certificates remain valid where issued
prior to 15 June to cover the transitional period.
Charging arrangements will change due to the new provisions however
guidance is awaited as to how the new inspection regime will affect
the charge. Until guidance is issued through the World Health
Organisation the existing charging arrangements will remain in
place.
The certificates as explained in para 2.4 of IHRs 2005 are
concerned with disease in a wider sense that encompasses both
infection and contamination. Potentially a number of infectious
diseases or kinds of contamination could be spread by ships.
Accordingly the IHRs 2005 provide for ships engaged in
international journeys to be issued with:
- Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates (where public
health authorities have inspected a ship and found no evidence of
infection or contamination, or of vectors or reservoirs of
infection and contamination or of microbiological, chemical and
other risks to human health, or signs of inadequate sanitary
measures); or with
- Ship Sanitation Control Certificates (where the public health
authorities are satisified that procedures necessary to rid the
ship of infection, contamination and/or their vectors/reservoirs
have been effectively carried out).
Certificates may only be issued by approved ports – Lowestoft is
approved to issue both of the above certificates.
2. The
Maritime Declaration of Health has been
updated and changed to incorporate new requirements. The
declaration is as per the model in annex 8 of International
Health Regulations 2005.
A notification is required by the master of a ship reporting:
a) The occurrence on board ship before arrival
of
i. the death of a person otherwise than as a result of an accident,
or
ii. illness where the person who is ill has or had a temperature of
38—C or greater was accompanied by a rash, glandular swelling or
jaundice, or where such temperature persisted for more than 48
hours, or
iii. illness where the person has or had diarrhoea sever enough to
interfere with work or normal activities;
b) the presence on board of a person who is
suffering from an infectious disease or tuberculosis or who has
symptoms which may indicate the presence or an infectious disease
or tuberculosis.
c) Any other circumstances on board which are
likely to cause the spread of infectious disease or other danger to
public health; and
d) the presence of animals or captive birds, and
the occurrence of mortality or sickness amongst such animals or
birds.
Means of notification
For the purposes of notification described above the master shall
–
- send by appropriate means before arrival, either directly to
the local authority or through an agent approved by the local
authority, a radio message, fax, email or other communication
complying with paragraph (3) of this regulation; or
- where it is not possible to comply with sub-paragraph (a)
before arrival, notify the local authority immediately on arrival
of the presence on board of such infectious disease or
tuberculosis, symptoms or other similar circumstances.
- Any radio message, fax email or other communication sent for
the purpose of this regulation shall be sent so as to reach the
local authority nor more that twelve hours, and whenever
practicable not less than 4 hours, before the expected arrival of
the ship.
Charges
| Gross Tonnage |
Charge (£) |
| Up to 3,000 |
100 |
| 3,001 - 10,000 |
150 |
| 10,001 - 20,000 |
200 |
| 20,001 - 30,000 |
230 |
| Over 30,000 |
300 |
With the exception of:
- Vessels with the capacity to carry between 50 and 1000 persons-
£300
- Vessels with the capacity to carry more than 1000 persons-
£500
Extra charges may be added for exceptional costs such as
launch hire.
If you have any queries regarding the new requirements of the
International Health Regulations (2005) or the ship sanitation
certificate provisions, please contact Waveney District Council
using the details below:
email:
environment@waveney.gov.uk
tel: 01502
523117