Functions and Duties

SURVEILLANCE OF QUARANTAINABLE DISEASES AND PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN (PHEIC)

  1. I)    Precautionary Measures Against Quarantainable Diseases

(Precautionary measures taken for Yellow Fever)

    1. Control of Mosquito-Aedes egypti within 400 meters of the Port Area.
    2. Ships coming from Yellow Fever affected areas within 30 days to be limited by pratique.
    3. Check for Yellow Fever Vaccination certificates of crews and passengers coming from Yellow Fever affected areas
    4. Vaccination of crews and passengers for Yellow Fever.

(Precautionary measures taken for Plague)

    1. All ships foreign/coastal must have a valid Ship Sanitation Exemption/ Control Certificate.
    2. Issual of Ship Sanitation Exemption/ Control Certificate.

(Precautionary measures taken for Cholera)

    1. Water, if suspect is bacteriologically and chemically analysed.
    2. Anti-fly measures and proper sanitation of the ship is checked
    3. Water is tested for residual chlorine.
    4. Ships water tanks are checked and asked to be cleaned and cement coated and dated.
Accordion Content
  1. No ships are to be permitted to berth without pratique.
  2. Standard  Quarantine  Message  to  be  sent  by  all ships coming from foreign ports and free pratique is granted.
  3. Check pratique certificate, if coming from other Indian Ports.
  1. Now because of COVID-19 free pratique and free radio pratique is not granted limited pratique is given on arrival.
  1. Health screening and Medical examination of crews / passengers for Yellow Fever and PHEIC such as H1N1, Ebola Virus Disease, MERS-CoV, Zika Virus Disease and COVID-19 Disease and any other diseases notified by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
  2. Health & Sanitary Inspection of the vessels

Inspection for Health and Sanitary conditions on board the ships is mainly directed to ascertain the sanitary and hygienic standard of ships and to take remedial measures when deficiency is noted. This inspection is usually done on arrival of ship. This enables the Master of a ship to rectify the defects noticed during inspection and the ship is free from sources of infection or contamination before sailing

Inspection of Medicine Chest on ships is carried out to ensure that sufficient stock of medicines and medical appliances are kept on board, which might be essential for ailing seafarers, particularly at high seas as per the schedule prescribed in International Medical Guide for ships (WHO). The certificate issued is valid for 1 year.

Master desiring Radio-Free Pratique has to send a pratique message giving all information as required under the Indian Port Health Rules 1955 within the stipulated time before arrival. If the wireless message is complete and have negative answers to all the health questions, the ships are granted Radio Pratique from the time of its arrival at the outer-roads and the fact will be intimated to the concerned steamer agents, who in turn will communicate to the Master of the vessel.

This Inspection is carried out under the provisions of Indian Port Health Rules 1955/International Health Regulations (2005). When the Ship Sanitation Exemption Certificate or their extension has expired or about to be expired, a thorough inspection of ships is carried out when the ship is empty or has little cargo. The ship sanitation exemption/ control certificate is then issued, which remains valid for 6 months. An extension of one month is granted if for any reason the ship sanitation inspection cannot be carried out. Tankers and Containerised vessels can be inspected when fully loaded or with water ballast.

Human remains coming from abroad are cleared after verifying the death certificates and embalming certificates. The clearance certificates certifying that the human remains is free from Quarantainable diseases is issued to relatives to take the dead body. Similarly health clearance certificate for death on board the ship are issued after necessary formalities.

Yellow Fever Vaccination is given on Wednesdays and Fridays except holidays at a nominal fee of 300 rupees. Online registration is mandatory for yellow fever registration. Passport or copy of the passport should be bought. Yellow fever exemption certificate is also issued. Duplicate yellow fever vaccination certificate is also issued.

Port Health Officer, Port Health Organisation, Cochin is the Designated officer for FSSAI in Cochin seaport for issual of FSSAI licence to food business operators in cochin port.

Vector surveillance of Cochin Port – for control of vectors i.e.  Rats, Flies and Mosquito –Aedes egypti within 400 meter periphery of Cochin Port. Port Health Organisation, Cochin supervises the sanitary works undertaken by Cochin Port Trust sanitary wing.