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HOUSEBOATS AT BENFLEET
The Essex County Council Act, 1952, provides that the mooring of any houseboat within the
County shall not be lawful without the consent of the Council of the district in which the houseboat
is situated, and that the Council may require the owner or occupier to remove or demolish
any houseboat not authorised by them.
The Port and City of London Health Committee are, however, still responsible under the
Public Health (London) Act, 1936, for the sanitary supervision of houseboats coming within the
jurisdiction of the Port Health Authority, although under the Essex County Council Act, 1952,
the local Council in Essex are now responsible for the licensing and drawing up of conditions
under which they are prepared to grant licences to houseboats.
The duties of the Committee in regard to the sanitary supervision of houseboats are safeguarded
by Section 212 of the Essex County Council Act, 1952, which provides inter alia that
no consent shall be given to the mooring of any houseboat within the Port of London without the
previous written consent of the Corporation of London as the Port Health Authority of the Port
of London.
During the year the Benfleet Urban District Council granted temporary consents, subject to
the approval of the Port Health Authority, to twenty-one houseboats. No objection to these
consents was raised by the Port and City of London Health Committee.
CUTTER "HUMPHREY MORRIS"
The completed vessel was officially accepted from the Builders in June after successful
operational speed trials had been conducted in the Estuary under normal conditions. Eight runs
over the measured mile were made, with and against the tide, and an average of 12.31 knots
obtained thus providing a working margin in excess of the specified 12 knots.
Before and during the propulsion trials, all the auxiliary units were tested to complete
satisfaction and the vessel arrived on the Gravesend Station fully equipped for service on 5th
June.
The high standard anticipated has been fully realised during the six months service, both in
operational service and generally improved amenities for the Boarding Medical Officers and Crews.
The boarding platform and the radio-telephone sets have proved to be particularly useful and the
standard of comfort much appreciated by all concerned.
There is good reason to believe that she will justifiably represent the Authority in dignity
and prestige for many years.
DANGEROUS DRUGS
During the year twenty-four certificates authorising the purchase of scheduled Dangerous
Drugs were issued under the Dangerous Drugs Regulations, 1953, Regulation 13 (2) of which is
as follows
(a) The master of a foreign ship which is in a port in Great Britain shall be authorised to
procure such quantity of drugs and preparations as may be certified by the medical
officer of health of the port health authority within those jurisdiction the ship is or, in
his absence, by the assistant medical officer of health, to be necessary for the equipment
of the ship until it reaches its home port.
(b) A person who supplies a drug or preparation in accordance with a certificate given under
this paragraph shall retain the certificate and mark it with the date on which the drug or
preparation was supplied and keep it on his premises so as to be at all times available
for inspection.
STUDENTS AND VISITORS
During the year visitors from Australia, African territories, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong,
Iran, Malta, Malaya, Singapore, the West Indies and Yugoslavia visited the Port to see the work
of the Authority. In addition visitors from Government Departments, Local Authorities, including
student Public Health Inspectors, and from centres of health education have received short term
instruction in port health activities.
Although this instruction absorbs valuable time of the port health staffs, there is no doubt
that it helps to widen their outlook and emphasises the international aspect of the work.
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