Ship sanitation inspections and/or extensions

General

The Port of Southampton is designated by the World Health Authority (WHO) to issue ship sanitation certificates at all berthing areas within its statutory boundary.

Our statutory boundary encompasses:

Southampton Water; East and West Solent; the Eastern Docks base for transatlantic liner operations, Western Docks, the Container Terminals, Marchwood Military Port, the Marine Oil Terminals at Fawley, Hamble Grain Terminals, River Wharfs (and the City Airport).

Ship sanitation certificates

Vessels that travel within international waters are required to be inspected at six monthly intervals under the International Health Regulations 2005 and is issued with either a Ship Sanitation Control Certificate or a Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate.

If the ship inspection is satisfactory a Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate will be issued.

If public health risks are found on board ship a Ship Sanitation Control Certificate will be issued and require that the problems are remedied within a certain timescale. Both certificates are valid for a maximum period of six months. However, this period may be extended by one month to allow a vessel to reach a port – this is known as a ship sanitation extension.