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(NAR) VOL. 1 NO.1 / JANUARY - MARCH 1990

[ DOH QUARANTINE ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 20, June 13, 1953 ]



The provisions of Annex B to WHO Regulations No. 2 of the International Sanitary Regulations which have been adopted by the World Health Organization and to which the Republic of the Philippines is a signatory, are hereunder quoted.  These provisions are hereby circularized to shipping and aircraft owners and agencies for their information and compliance.  In accordance with Section 5 of Republic Act No. 123, series of 1947, they are made part of the Regulations of the Bureau of Quarantine to take effect immediately:

PART I
“Pilgrim Ships

ARTICLE B 1

Only mechanically propelled ships shall be permitted to carry pilgrims.

ARTICLE B 2

1.  Every pilgrim ship shall be able to accommodate the pilgrims on the between-decks.

2.  Pilgrims shall not be accommodated on a pilgrim ship on any deck lower than the first between-deck below the water-line.

3.  The following space provisions shall be made on a pilgrim ship for each pilgrim, irrespective of age —

(a)   on the between-decks, in addition to the space provided for the crew, an area of not less than 18 English square feet or 1.672 square meters and a cubic capacity of not less than 108 English cubic feet or 3.058 cubic metres;

(b)   on the upper deck a free area of not less than 6 English square feet or 0.557 square meters in addition to the area upon that deck required for the working of the ship or reserved for the crew, or taken up by temporary hospitals, douches, and latrines.

4.  The decks above the upper between-decks on a pilgrim ship shall be wooden decks or steel decks covered with wood or any satisfactory insulating material.

5.  Satisfactory ventilation shall be provided in every pilgrim ship.  The ventilation shall be augmented by mechanical means, at least in the case of decks below the first of the between-decks, and by portholes in the upper between-decks if the deck is above the water line.

ARTICLE B 3

1.  Every pilgrim-ship shall be provided on deck with screened places supplied at all times, even if the ship is lying at anchor, with sea water under pressure, in pipes which shall be fitted with taps or douches, in the proportion of not less than one tap or douche for every 100 pilgrims or fraction of 100 pilgrims.

2.  A sufficient number of such places shall be for the exclusive use of women.

ARTICLE B 4

1.  In addition to closet accommodation for the crew, every pilgrim ship shall be provided with latrines, fitted with flushing apparatus or water taps, in the proportion of not less than three latrines for every 100 pilgrims or fraction of 100 pilgrims; provided that, for existing ships in which it is impractical to provide that proportion, the health authority for the port of departure may permit the proportion to be not less than two latrines for every 100 pilgrims or fraction of 100 pilgrims.

2.  A sufficient number of such latrines shall be for the exclusive use of women.

3.  No latrines shall be situated in the hold of a ship or in a between-deck which has no access to an open deck.

ARTICLE B 5

1.  Every pilgrim shall be provided with satisfactory hospital accommodation situated on the upper deck unless the health authority for the port of departure considers that some other situation would be equally satisfactory.

2.  Such hospital accommodation, including temporary hospital, shall be of sufficient size, allowing not less than 97 English square feet or 9.012 square metres for every 100 pilgrims or fraction of 100 pilgrims, and so constructed as to provide for the isolation of infected persons or suspects.

3.  Separate latrines and drinking-water taps shall be provided exclusively for such accommodations.

ARTICLE B 6

1.  Every pilgrim ship shall carry medicaments and appliances for the treatment of the sick pilgrims, as well as disinfectants and insecticides. The health administration for the territory in which the port of departure is situated shall prescribe the quantities of such substances or articles to be carried.

2.  Every pilgrim ship shall be provided with anticholera vaccine, anti-smallpox vaccine, and any other vaccine which may be prescribed by the health administration referred to in paragraph 1 of this article, and such vaccines and substances shall be stored under suitable conditions.

3.  Medical attendance and medicines shall be provided free of charge to pilgrims on a pilgrim ship.

ARTICLE B 7

1.  The crew of every pilgrim ship shall include a properly qualified and registered medical practitioner with experience of maritime health conditions, as well as a nursing attendant, employed for medical service on the ship.

2.  If the number of pilgrims on board exceeds 1,000, the crew shall include two such medical practitioners and two nursing attendants.

3.  Every such medical practitioner shall be so recognized by the health administration for the territory in which the port of departure is situated.

ARTICLE B 8

Each State may apply to pilgrim ships embarking pilgrims for the Hedjaz in its ports requirements additional to those prescribed in Articles B 2 to B 7 inclusive, which are minimum requirements, if the additional requirements conform with its national legislation.

ARTICLE B 9

Each pilgrim on board a pilgrim ship shall keep with him only such light baggage as is essential for the voyage.

ARTICLE B 10

Every pilgrim shall be in possession of a return ticket or shall have deposited a sum sufficient to pay for the return journey.  The sanitary charges which he will normally incur throughout his voyage to and from the Hedjaz shall be included in the price of that ticket or in that sum.

ARTICLE B 11

1.  The master of every pilgrim ship or the agent of the shipping company shall notify the health authority for each port at which pilgrims are due to be embarked for the Hedjaz of the intention to do so at least three days before the ship leaves the port of departure and at least twelve hours before it leaves any subsequent port of call.

2.  A similar notification shall be made to the health authority for Jeddah at least three days before the ship leaves that port.

3.  Every such notification shall specify the proposed date of departure and the port of landing of the pilgrims.

ARTICLE B 12

1.  The health authority for a port, on receiving a notification provided for in Article B 11, shall inspect the ship, and may measure it if the master cannot produce a certificate of measurement by another competent authority, or if the inspecting authority has reason to believe that such certificate no longer represents the actual conditions of the ship.

2.  The cost of any such inspection and measurement shall be payable by the master.

ARTICLE B 13

The health authority for a port at which pilgrims are embarked shall not permit the departure of a pilgrim ship until satisfied that —

(a)     the ship carries as part of the crew a properly qualified and registered medical practitioner or practitioners, as well as a nursing attendant or attendants, as provided for in Article B 7, and sufficient medical stores;

(b)     the ship is thoroughly clean and, if necessary, has been disinfected;

(c)     the ship is properly ventilated and provided with awnings of sufficient size and thickness to shelter the decks;

(d)     there is nothing on board which is or may become injurious to the health of the pilgrims or crew;

(e)     there is on board, properly stowed away, in addition to the requirements of other persons on board, sufficient wholesome food for all the pilgrims during the voyage;

(f)      the drinking water on board is wholesome and sufficient;

(g)     the tanks for the drinking water on board are properly protected from contamination and so closed that the water can be drawn from them only by means of taps or pumps;

(h)     the ship carries an apparatus capable of distilling not less than five litres of drinking water per day for each person on board;

(i)      the ship has a proper and sufficient disinfecting chamber;

(j)      the deck allotted to the pilgrims is free from merchandise and unencumbered;

(k)     any appropriate measure provided for in this Annex can be applied on board;

(l)      the master has obtained —

(i)         a list, countersigned by the health authority for each port at which pilgrims have been embarked, showing the names and sex of the pilgrims embarked there and the maximum number of pilgrims which may be carried on the ship;

(ii)        a document giving the name, nationality, and tonnage of the ship, the names of the master and ship's surgeon or surgeons, the exact number of persons embarked, and the port of departure; this document shall include a statement by the health authority for the port of departure, showing whether the maximum number of pilgrims which may be carried has been embarked, and, if not, the additional number of pilgrims the ship is authorized to embark at subsequent ports of call.

ARTICLE B 14

1.  The document referred to in subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (1) of Article B 13 shall be countersigned at each port of call by the health authority for that port, which shall enter on such document —

(a)     the number of pilgrims disembarked or embarked at that port;

(b)     the sanitary conditions at the port of call.

2.  If any such document is altered in any manner during the voyage, the ship may be treated as infected.

ARTICLE B 15

Pilgrims shall not be permitted to cook food on board a pilgrim ship.

ARTICLE B 16

During the voyage of a pilgrim ship, the deck allotted to pilgrims shall be kept free from merchandise and unencumbered and reserved for their use at all times, even at night, without charge.

ARTICLE B 17

The between-decks of a pilgrim ship shall be properly cleaned every day during the voyage at a time when they are not occupied by the pilgrims.

ARTICLE B 18

Every latrine on a pilgrim ship shall be kept clean and in good working order, and shall be disinfected as frequently as necessary and in no case less than three times a day.

ARTICLE B 19

1.  Not less than five litres of drinking water shall be provided daily, free of charge, to each pilgrim, irrespective of age.

2.  If there is any reason to suspect that the drinking water on a pilgrim ship may be contaminated, or if there is any doubt as to its quality, it shall be boiled or sterilized, and it shall be removed from the ship at the first port at which a fresh and wholesome supply can be obtained.  The tanks shall be disinfected before being filled with the fresh supply.

ARTICLE B 20

1.  The ship's surgeon shall daily visit the pilgrims on a pilgrim ship during its voyage, give medical attention to them as maybe necessary, and satisfy himself that hygienic standards are being observed on board.

2.  The ship's surgeon shall, in particular, satisfy himself —

(a)   that the rations Issued to the pilgrims are of good quality and properly prepared and that the quantity is in accordance with the carriage contract;

(b)   that drinking water is provided in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article B 19;

(c)   that the ship is always kept clean, and that the latrines are cleaned and disinfected as required by Article B 18;

(d)   that the pilgrim's quarters are kept clean;

(e)   that, in the case of the occurrence of any disease of an infectious, nature, the appropriate measures of control, including those of disinfection and disinsecting, have been carried out.

3.  If there is any doubt as to the quality of the drinking water, the ship's surgeon shall draw the attention of the master, in writing, to the provisions of sub-paragraph (f), (g), and (h) of Article B 13 and paragraph 2 of Article B 19.

4.  The ship's surgeon shall keep a day-to-day record, which shall be daily countersigned by the master, of every occurrence on board relating to health, including any preventive measures taken, during the voyage.  If so requested by the health authority for any port of call or for the port of destination, such record shall be produced for inspection.

ARTICLE B 21

The ship's surgeon shall be responsible to the master of a pilgrim ship for all necessary measures of disinfection or disinsecting on board, which shall be carried out under the supervision of the ship's surgeon, and for the measures specified in paragraph 2 of Article B 20.

ARTICLE B 22

Only the persons charged with the care and nursing of patients suffering from any disease of an infectious nature shall have access to them.  Such persons, other than the ship's surgeon, shall not come in contact with any other persons on board if such contact would be liable to convey the infection.

ARTICLE B 23

1.  If a pilgrim dies during the voyage, the master shall record the fact opposite the name of the pilgrim on the list required by subparagraph (i) of paragraph (1) of Article B 13 and he shall also enter in the ship's log the name of the pilgrim, his age, the place where he came, and the cause or assumed cause of his death.

2.  If a pilgrim has died at sea from any disease of an infectious nature, the corpse shall be wrapped in a shroud impregnated with a disinfecting solution and shall be buried at sea.

ARTICLE B 24

This Annex does not apply to pilgrim ships engaged on short sea voyages, accepted locally as coasting voyages, which shall conform with special requirements agreed between the States concerned.

PART II
Aircraft

ARTICLE B 25

The provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago, 1944) and of the annexes thereto, governing the transport of passengers by air, the application of which may affect the health of such passengers, shall be equally enforced whether an aircraft is carrying pilgrims or other passengers.

ARTICLE B 26

A health administrator may require aircraft carrying pilgrims to land only at airports in its territory designated by it for the disembarking of pilgrims."

Adopted: 13 June 1953

(SGD.) R. ABRIOL
Colonel, B. Q.
Director of Quarantine

Effective: 13 June 1953

 

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