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HEALTH DOCUMENTS AND FORMALITIES

HEALTH MEASURES ON ENTERING PORT

The captains or owners of vessels that make international journeys will announce their arrival at port in advance by phone or signals to the port's health authorities. When they come within vision, the corresponding flag of the International Signals Code is raised.

• Yellow flag, letter Q, in case of lack of communication, means the vessel is healthy (see figure A-18).
  
  
  
  

  Picture A -18.

  
  
• Two vertical yellow flags letter QQ, means there has been an infectious illness on board before the last five days, or an unusual death toll of rats (see figure A -19).
  
  
  
  

  Picture A-19.

  
  
• Yellow and black squared flag under a yellow one, letters QL, means there has been an infectious illness in the last five days (see figure A-20).
  
  
  
  

  Picture A -20.

At night, we can ask for health-care by placing a red light above a white one, separated by a maximum of two metres.

While the signals remain hoisted all communication with the vessel is prohibited except for pilots and tug boats; those vessels that are denied free talk cannot make contact with land or any other vessels, and must remain anchored or moored where the port authorities indicate.

The health authorities will solicit, should it be deemed necessary, the Maritime Declaration of Health, endorsed by the on board doctor, if there is one. This complies with the International Health Regulations, article 90. In this respect, the subsequent measures can be taken:

• Exempt all vessels docking, no matter where they are coming from, or only those arriving from the Bonded Health Zone (member countries of the European Council) from presenting the declaration.
• Exclusively require that those vessels coming from certain expressly mentioned areas, and in cases where there is something positive to report.

The Free Talking Certificate is given to vessels after a Anterior inspection of the health conditions.

HEALTH MEASURES WHILE REMAINING IN PORT

The captain or vessel owner, through annotations on the back of the free talking certificate, must take note, whilst in port, of any health incident that might occur on board; this includes any alteration in the health of the crewmembers, passengers and animals on board, such as a sudden large unexplained death of rats. No ill person may be transferred without written authorisation from the Health Authority.

Conversely, they must prevent the use of seawater for washing or domestic use as well as the dumping of on board residual materials and refuse. They should prohibit the use of seawater for hosing down in the proximity of sewage outlets.

HEALTH MEASURES ON LEAVING PORT

• The Vessel Departure Authorisation is issued after Anterior inspection of the vessel to ensure that the registered ship complies with the health regulation formalities for its departure.

In relation to the vessel, it should have Anteriorly obtained:

• New vessels or those newly registered should obtain a Health Inspection Certificate for Vessel Registration, after Anterior inspection of the vessels hygiene conditions in relation to the type of trade it will be dedicated to.

The validity of the International Rat Clearing Certificate/ Rat Clearing Exemption Certificate, conforming with article 17 of the International Health Regulations, and the Insect Clearing Certificate, issued after Anterior verification of having carried out the required extermination of insects capable of transmitting diseases to man, should be checked.

• The validity of the Medical kit (A, B or C) and Lifeboat Check Certificate, and if applicable that for antidotes, included in the corresponding revision books, should be checked.

In relation to the crew:

• A medical inspection of all crewmembers Anterior to departure, valid and registered in the corresponding section of the Maritime Inscription Book, signed by a doctor from the Maritime Health Service of the Marine Social Institute, should be numbered and stamped.

• The International Vaccination Certificate, to travel to countries where it is required, should conform to the International Health Regulations of 1969 (World Health Organisation, 3rd edition, 1983).

In relation to the voyage and companions:

No one who could be carrying an infectious disease is permitted on board, and if they are common infections, either the on board or local health personnel should authorise their isolation. Neither ill people nor corpses are permitted on board, without Anterior authorisation from the health authorities.

Companions of crewmembers can substitute the medical inspection for an ordinary medical certificate Anterior to departure, if the captain agrees.

In relation to the cargo:

A Health Inspection Certificate should be obtained (after Soliciting the Inspection) issued once the merchandise has been inspected under the import/export regime. This cannot be used in place of compulsory specific legal or regulatory forms.