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Any vessel subject to quarantine inspection entering a port under the control of the United
States may apply for radio pratique to the quarantine station administratively responsible for the
port. The request comes from the master of the vessel, through his agent, not less than 12 hours
nor more than 24 hours prior to arrival at the first port in the USA. When the agent telephones the
request to the quarantine station he provides all the applicable information requested on the Radio
Pratique Transaction Record. Upon arrival in port the ship's master/surgeon/purser-pharmacist
mate gives a copy of the radio message to the agentif the vessel is not boarded or to the quarantine
Inspector if the vessel is boarded. Any suspected infectious illness which occurs after the
request is made is reported immediately through the agent to the quarantine station. If radio
pratique has been granted, the quarantine officer notifies the ship's agent and other US inspectional
agencies of any additional quarantine measures to be imposed or of any change in radio pratique
status.
Upon receiving the request through the ship's agent, the quarantine station evaluates the
the information. Additional information may be requested from the ship through the agent. The
Quarantine Station advises the ship's agent and other US governmental agencies of the ship's
status, i.e. "Radio Free Pratique", "Radio Provisional Pratique", or "Radio Pratique Denied".
The agent transmits the reply to the ship and notifies the pilot and others concerned.
If Radio Free Pratique is granted the vessel may proceed directly to the dock or berth and
begin normal business activities subject to the requirements of other US governmental agencies
without the boarding of a quarantine inspector.
If Radio Provisional Pratique is granted the agent is advised of requirements to be fulfilled
and/or if the vessel falls within a random sample to undergo complete inspection for the purpose
of ensuring that quarantine standards are maintained. Provisional pratique is granted when a
condition exists on board which requires further action by the ship's master or the quarantine
officer. The vessel may proceed to dock or berth and begin normal business activities except as
advised by the quarantine station and subject to the requirements of other US governmental
agencies. A vessel which falls within the random sample must await complete inspection prior
to commencing business activities.
If Radio Practique is denied, the agent is advised and the vessel undergoes inspection in
the anchorage or at the berth in accordance with normal procedures at the port or as advised by
the quarantine station.
Prior to arrival of the Vessel in Port the ship's master/surgeon/purser-pharmacist mate is
responsible for the following activities for quarantine clearance purposes:-
(0) Preparation of a list of persons (passengers and crew) who do not possess a valid smallpox
vaccination certificate.
(b) Preparation of a list of persons (passengers and crew regardless of smallpox vaccination
status) who have been in a smallpox infected area within 14 days prior to arrival in
the United States — underlining the names of persons who do not possess a valid smallpox
vaccination certificate.
(c) Entering certain information in the ship's log. e.g., illnesses and deaths of persons, and
animals, including birds, details of the rodent control measures applied if thevessel has been
in a plague infected port. Information and copies of forms are available upon request for
vessels which routinely carry importation items of public health importance, such as psittacine
birds, dogs, cats, monkeys, dead bodies (human — in cargo), shipments of aetiological
agents or vectors.
(d) Ensuring that the ship is maintained in a rat-free and sanitary condition.
(e) Applying any additional control measures as advised by the quarantine station.
When the vessel granted Radio Free Pratique arrives in Port the responsible official on
board gives the Quarantine Declaration Form and the copy of the radio message requesting radio
pratique documents on admissible importations to the ship's agents for delivery to the quarantine
station on the day of arrival.
When a vessel is granted Radio Provisional Pratique these documents are given to the
quarantine officer when he boards and the ship's log and lists detailed above and deratting or
deratting exemption certificate. The persons in lists (a) and (b) are to be presented to the quarantine
officer for inspection. The animals and importation items remain on board till released by
the quarantine officer.
Comment on Port Health Administration in General in the U.S.A.
(1) Until five years ago medical officers were employed for boarding to carry out quarantine
duty, e.g., there were five in New York alone. Today these have been entirely replaced by non-