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Smoke, appears to have brought about a corresponding improvement in Dark Smoke emanations, as
the number of reports of emissions of Dark Smoke have been reduced to a negligible number during
the latter months of 1959.
Very little difficulty has been experienced in connection with shore establishments. Most of
these are owned by the Port of London Authority who have been most co-operative in every way
in eliminating smoke.
Two flour mills, owned by firms other than the Port of London Authority, which initially gave
rise to complaints, no longer do so, the owners having, at the suggestion of the Officers of the
Port Health Authority, made such alterations as have corrected the offending firing systems.
The position in regard to Harbour Craft has substantially improved during the year although
these vessels, particularly some tugs and dredgers, still constitute a problem. It is felt that more
co-operation could be forthcoming from certain sources.
It is noteworthy that Port Health Authorities throughout the country are keenly aware of the
urgency and difficulties of dealing with the smoke problem on ships,and at the Annual Conference
of the Association of Public Health Inspectors in 1959, at which Mr. A.H. Marshall, Senior Port
Health Inspector, delivered a paper on the 'Application of the Clean Air Act to Shipping', there
was shown a real interest in this vital subject.
In conclusion reference should be made to the assistance which has been received from the
Port of London Authority Police, the Thames Division of the Metropolitan Police, and County
Police of various riparian districts, in submitting to the Port Health Authority detailed reports of
infringements of the Act which have been brought to their notice.
RADIATION HAZARDS
In my last Report it was mentioned that active consideration will have to be given to radiation
hazards from nuclear powered ships visiting the Port of London in the future and when this time
arrives it will be important for the Port Health Inspectors on the River and in the Docks to be
equipped with the appropriate apparatus for taking measurements of radio-activity in the vicinity.
As a first step arrangements were made for the Port Health Inspectors to attend a course of
lectures at the Sir John Cass College on "Radio-activity and its hazards in biology and medicine"
—a course which was conducted very successfully in the early months of 1959.
In answer to a question in the House of Commons on 11th March, 1959, Mr. John Hay said
that it was at present premature to assume that any nuclear-powered ship will come into the Port
of London in 1960. Nevertheless, the problems that might arise from the entry of such vessels
into the Port of London have already been discussed with the Port of London Authority and an
outline scheme agreed.
In the near future it is hoped to set up a system of regular sampling of air and water in a part
of the Port, probably that part which would be allocated for the reception of nuclear powered
vessels in the event of these visiting the Port of London. By this means it is hoped to build up
a background of basic data as to "normal" content of ionizing radiations found in air and water
samples. Then when a ship does visit that part of the Port, samples taken at the time can be
compared with the basic data to see if there is any increase in the level of ionizing radiations.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACT, 1936, PART X-CANAL BOATS
One hundred and thirteen inspections of canal boats were made during the year. Twenty-five
canal boats were found to have a total of forty-four defects, as follows:
No. of defects
Cabin in need of cleaning and/or painting 11
Defective condition of cabin top and/or sides 15
Defective condition of cabin hatch doors 2
Defective flooring 3
Defective bulkheads 3
Defective ventilation 4
Defective food storage 2
Excessive bilge water due to leak at stern 2
Defective drinking water can 1
Bug infestation 1
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The Owners and/or Masters of the defective craft were in each case notified and requested
to remedy the defects.
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