London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of London 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
This page requires JavaScript
TABLE B
| Ships from | *Number | *Net Tonnage | Number Inspected | Number of ships reported as having, or having had during the voyage, infectious disease on board. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By the Port Medical Officer | By the Port Health Inspector | ||||
| Foreign Ports | * | * | 965 | 11,412 | 37 |
| Coastwise | * | * | 31 | 1,131 | 4 |
| Total | * | * | 996 | 12,543 | 41 |
| *Figures not available at time of going to press. | |||||
TABLE C
| Passenger Traffic-foreign travel only | Number of Passengers — Inwards 92,805 Number of Passengers - Outwards 88,707 |
| Cargo Traffic | Principal Imports All types of produce and Principal Exports merchandise |
| Principal Ports from which ships arrive. The Port of London trades with all parts of the world. | |
SECTION IV
INLAND BARGE TRAFFIC
Numbers and tonnage using the district and places served by the traffic
The trend of the last few years,which has seen a decline inthe lighterage industry on the
River Thames, continued during the year.
The Port of London Authority registered a total of 2,508 lighters, with an aggregate tonnage
of 271,430 tons, during the year. These lighters, by way of creeks and canals, operate throughout
the Port and its environs. They include general purpose cargo carriers and craft which are specially
designed for the carriage of bulk liquid and refrigerated cargoes. Some of the lighters used for
carrying refrigerated cargo are fitted with refrigeration plant and the bulk liquid carriers have steam
heating coils incorporated in their tanks.
Control of the carriage of food in lighters, barges and other vessels is provided by the
provisions of the Food Hygiene (Docks, Carriers, etc.) Regulations 1960. A watch is kept on
lighters used for the carriage of foodstuffs, so as to eliminate, as far as possible, any contamination
of food during its transportation in these craft.
During the year 152 general cargo lighters and 126 refrigerated lighters were inspected for
cleanliness of the holds prior to loading food cargoes.
SECTION V
WATER SUPPLY
1. Source of supply for:
(a) The district-
All the docks in the Greater London area obtain their water supplies from the Metropolitan
Water Board. Tilbury Dock is supplied by the Essex Water Company.
The majority of the wharves are supplied by Public Water Authorities within whose area of
jurisdiction they are situated though several wharves have their own deep wells. A few wharves
have no water supplies available for shipping, in which case water required can be obtained from
water barges..
6