View report page

The routine inspection of ships entering the Port to ascertain the hygiene and
sanitation of spaces occupied by crows and passengers has continuedto be carried
out by the Port Health Inspectors.
Table 'J' shows a summarised classification of the nuisances discovered and
Appendix V gives details of the types of nuisances dealt with.
Defects are dealt with in two ways depending on whether their remedy would require
a structural alteration or not.
In the latter case direct contact is made with the owners or agents who are
requested to remedy or improve minor defects along suggested lines.
If the remedy of a defect would require a structural alteration, attention of
the Inspectors of the Ministry of Transport is drawn to the matter and it rests
with the Ministry to decide whether the owners should be called upon to remedy the
defect, having regard to its nature and the amount of work involved.
It is satisfactory to record that it is very seldom that owners fail to comply
with requests to improve the accommodation and the sanitary condition of their
vessels and in no instance has it been necessary to issue an Order.
While certain vessels still fall far below modern standards in their accommodation
for crews they are, for the most part, old and it will not be long before
they will be replaced by modern ships.
Ships built during and since the war show a vast improvement in crews accommodation
and in many cases leave nothing to be desired save the proper care and maintenance
of the accommodation by the crews themselves. It is to be regretted that,
despite the powers now given to masters to secure a proper observance of hygiene
and cleanliness, crew accommodation is often found in a filthy condition and showinig
obvious evidence of neglect. This is more frequently seen in British than in foreign
owned vessels and is a reflection on the attitude of certain crews towards their
living quarters.
Nevertheless, despite these isolated instances, the maintenance of crew accommodation
has generally shown a great improvement all round.
(17)