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During the year a thirty five year old paddle steamer arrived in the Port to operate a summer
passenger service to the estuary towns. The vessel complied with the requirements of the Regulations
and the standard of hygiene on board was satisfactory. Owing to intermittent damage to
the paddles, she has been unable to maintain a regular service.
31 routine inspections under the Regulations were carried out during the year. The few
infringements of a minor nature were corrected at the time of the visit.
SEABORNE CONTAINER TRAFFIC
There has been seaborne container traffic in this Port on a limited scale since 1962 but it
is now increasing year by year. A steady and regular flow arrives from the Continent and Scandinavia
and even greater traffic is anticipated from further afield. At present the types of containers
used are in two categories i.e. "dock to dock" and "door to door". The "dock to dock" containers
which are packed and unpacked in ports are 30ft. long whilst the "door to door" containers are
20ft. long.
Both types are used to carry foodstuffs for human consumption, the contents of which, of
course, are liable to inspection by the Authority. This means that the "door to door" containers,
which are destined to be delivered intact to the consignee's premises, must be specially opened
for the purpose and in order that their movement is not unduly impeded, whenever possible suitable
arrangements are made with H.M. Customs for the respective inspections to be carried out at the
same time. To this end shippers are urged to submit advance information of ships' food cargoes.
Fresh meat and similar commodities are not at present conveyed by this method.
As the food trade develops a suitable organisation will need to be set up to deal with the
imported food inspection procedures and it has already been proposed that where the container
has been cleared by H.M.Customs at the port of entry but not seen by the Port Health Authority it
will suffice to receive from the importer a written guarantee to the effect that the container will
remain sealed until it arrives at the point of destination where it will be dealt with by the local
medical officer of health. It is too early to forsee the eventual plan of operation but the indications
are that this will be a major industry and modifications to the present port health control will be
inevitable.
FOOD INSPECTION
The total amount of foodstuffs detained for examination and either condemned as unfit for
human consumption and destroyed or otherwise disposed of under guarantee and supervision was
4,223 tons. 14 cwts. 3 qrs. 14 lbs.

Items marked *were released with the agreement of and under the supervision of local
medical officers of health.
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