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The following is an extract from the Notice M.410 issued on this subject:—
STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION OF POTABLE WATER
NOTICE TO SHIPOWNERS AND MASTERS
"Cases of typhoid fever have arisen in a merchant ship in circumstances which indicate
that the domestic water had become dangerously contaminated through cross connection of
the supply lines with the sanitary water system. There was also a possibility that drinking
water stored in a peak tank was in itself contaminated.
"It will be realised that it is of the utmost importance that water used for drinking and
cooking should be free from contamination and particular attention should be paid to the
following matters:—
"Potable water supply tanks should be cleaned periodically as recommended in
Ministry of Transport Notice No. M.358.
"Hoses and other apparatus used in filling potable water supply tanks should be
clean.
"Potable water, supply systems should not be connected with water ballast tanks
which have contained estuary or dock water or other water likely to be impure.
"Tanks which have been used for water ballast taken from the open sea should not
be used for storing potable water unless they have been cleansed.
"Whenever there is doubt about the purity of water to be used for human consumption
the water should be chlorinated.
"The subject is dealt with comprehensively in Paragraph 32 of the Handbook "Crew
Accommodation in Merchant Ships."
"The standards laid down in the Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations,
1953, and the Handbook may, however, not be reached in vessels which were
built before the Regulations became operative and in order to obtain as high a degree
of hygiene as possible shipowners may consider it advisable to review the potable water
supply systems in their older ships. In some cases it may be found that the storage
capacity for potable water is below that needed to meet present-day standards and the
provision of additional storage facilities may be necessary.
"In the course of inspections of water supply systems the opportunity should be
taken to ensure that there is no risk of contamination of potable water from other water
supplies. Water supplied to washbasins (which is liable to be used for mouth washing
or gargling) should be as clean as possible."
"Potable Water" means water for drinking and cooking.
SECTION VI-PUBLIC HEALTH (SHIPS) REGULATIONS, 1952
1. List of Infected Areas (Regulation 6)—
The Instructions applying to the Port of London on page 4 of the Declaration of Health were
amended during the year so as to exclude the necessity for ships from 'non-infected' areas which
use the Panama Canal for transit only to communicate with the Port Health Authority unless
there are special circumstances requiring the Boarding Medical Officer. Advantage was taken
of the reprinting of the Declaration of Health to amend the Instructions which now read as
follows:—
INSTRUCTIONS
I. THE MASTER of a ship approaching LONDON from a Foreign Port MUST
(1) Ascertain the health of all persons on board:
(2) Complete and sign this Maritime Declaration of Health.
(3) Hand this Declaration to the Customs Officer or Port Medical Officer, whoever
first visits the ship.
II. If the answer to any question on page one is 'YES', or —EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF
TANKERS-
If during the last FOUR WEEKS the ship has called at ANY PORT in all ASIA, AFRICA,
SOUTH AMERICA OR CENTRAL AMERICA (excluding transit through the Panama
Canal)—
THE MASTER MUST-
(1) Send a wireless message to 'PORTELTII' LONDON stating:—
NAME OF SHIP
EXPECTED TIME OF ARRIVAL AT GRAVESEND
NUMBERS, AGES and SEX of ALL CASES of INFECTIOUS DISEASE
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