DISEASE OUTBREAKS LEAD TO TIGHTENED SANITATION AND
DISEASE PREVENTION GUIDELINES
(Published October
2002)
Comprehensive new guidelines on ship sanitation and disease prevention at sea are currently being drawn up by the United Nations World Health Organization ("WHO"), in collaboration with the International Labour Organization in Geneva and London-based International Maritime Organization. The WHO Guide to Ship Sanitation, an official global reference on health requirements for ship construction and operation, was first published in 1967 and reprinted in 1987 with minor amendments. Since then, the enormous expansion of the industry and the ever-changing construction, design and size of ships, have given rise to major new health risks.
A ship's semi-enclosed environment, densely popucever-changing international population, can facilitate disease transmission. Such an environment can especially affect the nearly one-third of cruise ship passengers over the age of 60, many of whom suffer from chronic health conditions. Particular health risk concerns include gastrointestinal infections and Legionnaire's disease, a potentially fatal form of pneumonia contracted by inhaling Legionella bacteria into the lungs. Most gastrointestinal disease outbreaks at sea are linked to food or water consumed on board. Factors contributing to outbreaks include contaminated bunkered water, inadequate disinfection of potable water, water contaminated by sewage, poor water tank design and construction, deficiencies in food handling, preparation and cooking, and the use of sea water in the galley.
The decision to update the rules emerged at an international conference late last year in Miami, which was attended by representatives of insurance and shipbuilding industries, ship operators, seafarers' associations and various regulatory agencies. The reforms follow a major recent review by the WHO, identifying more than 100 disease outbreaks associated with ships since 1970. The new rules will apply to all types of ships, including passenger, cargo, naval vessels and tankers. The rules will address preventative environmental health management, including water supply at port, water production, treatment and distribution on ships, swimming and spa pools, waste disposal and food safety. Additionally, tightened new rules will govern vital disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, routine inspection and audit. Although the shipping industry is recovering rapidly from financial losses incurred in the wake of the September 11 attacks, the new guidelines are expected to affect vessel liability and associated costs.
