This organisation is a ‘Public Authority’ established for the detailed execution of the Policies of the Government of India with the status of a ‘Subordinate Office’ to Directorate General of Health Services under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi. This Public Authority functions with the funds provided by the Government of India.

The Port Health Organisation, Cochin was established in the year 12th December 1942 to ensure prevention of entry of Quarantinable diseases (Diseases subjected to International Health Regulations) into the country.

India, a Member State of World Health Organisation has adopted the International Health Regulations 2005 with some “Reservations”. The objective of ‘International Health Regulations’ is to ensure the maximum security against the international spread of communicable disease with a minimum interference with world traffic. The “Reservations of India” to these Regulations is towards ‘Prevention of entry of Yellow Fever into India. [As per these Regulations a Member State has to maintain as many of the Sanitary Ports and Airports as practicable with organized medical and health service with adequate staff, equipment, premises etc.

Cochin Port is an all-weather natural sea port. Among all the Indian Ports, Cochin is located closest to the international routes, being only 11 nautical miles from the Gulf to Singapore route and 70 nautical miles from the Suez Canal – Far East route.

PHO, Cochin is a designated and approved Port for issue of ‘ Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate, Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Ship Sanitation Extension Certificate to Ships’

Cochin seaport is one of the major sea port designated by World Health Organisation as International Sanitary Port in the western Coastline of the Indian subcontinent.

1. Precautionary Measures Against Quarantinable Diseases
   1. Yellow Fever : (Precautionary measures taken for Yellow Fever)
      1. Control of Mosquito-Aedes egypti within 400 meters of the Port Area.
      2. Ships coming from Yellow Fever affected areas within 30 days to be limited by pratique.
      3. Check for Yellow Fever Vaccination certificates of crews and passengers coming from Yellow Fever affected areas.
      4. Vaccination of crews and passengers for Yellow Fever.
   2. Plague (Precautionary measures taken for Plague)
      1. All ships foreign/coastal must have a valid Ship Sanitation Exemption/ Control Certificate.
      2. Issual of Ship Sanitation Exemption/ Control Certificate.
   3. Cholera (Precautionary measures taken for Cholera)
      1. Water, if suspect is bacteriologically and chemically analysed.
      2. Anti-fly measures and proper sanitation of the ship is checked
      3. Water is tested for residual chlorine.
      4. Ships water tanks are checked and asked to be cleaned and cement coated and dated.
2. Issue Pratique
   1. No ships are to be permitted to berth without pratique.
   2. Standard Quarantine Message to be sent by all ships coming from foreign ports and free pratique is granted.
   3. Check pratique certificate, if coming from other Indian Ports.
3. Dis-embarkation of crew on medical grounds/ Radio-medical Aid to seafarers at High seas. At times, medical advice is sought by seafarers at high seas in case of illness or injury. Port Health Officer gives them the necessary instructions regarding treatment and hospitalisation as the case may be on receipt of such messages.
4. Medical examination of crew The medical examination of pre-entrants as well as crew/ seamen is done as and when required.
5. Health & Sanitary Inspection of the vessels Inspection for Health and Sanitary conditions on board the ships is mainly directed to ascertain the sanitary and hygienic standard of ships and to take remedial measures when deficiency is noted. This inspection is usually done on arrival of ship. This enables the Master of a ship to rectify the defects noticed during inspection before sailing.
6. Inspection of Medicine Chest on board the vessels Inspection of Medicine Chest on ships is carried out to ensure that sufficient stock of medicines and medical appliances are kept on board, which might be essential for ailing seafarers, particularly at high seas as per the schedule prescribed in International Medical Guide for ships (WHO). The certificate issued is valid for 1 year.
7. Grant of Radio Pratique to the Ships Master desiring Radio-Free Pratique has to send a pratique message giving all information as required under the Indian Port Health Rules 1955 within the stipulated time before arrival. If the wireless message is complete and have negative answers to all the health questions, the ships are granted Radio Pratique from the time of its arrival at the outer-roads and the fact will be intimated to the concerned steamer agents, who in turn will communicate to the Master of the vessel. Now because of COVID-19 free pratique and free radio pratique is not granted limited pratique is given on arrival.
8. Inspection of ships for issue of Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate / Ship Sanitation Control Certificate This Inspection is carried out under the provisions of Indian Port Health Rules 1955/International Health Regulations (2005). When the Ship Sanitation Exemption Certificate or their extension has expired or about to be expired, a thorough inspection of ships is carried out when the ship is empty or has little cargo. The ship sanitation exemption/ control certificate is then issued, which remains valid for 6 months. An extension of one month is granted if for any reason the ship sanitation inspection cannot be carried out. Tankers and Containerised vessels can be inspected when fully loaded or with water ballast.
9. Issual of Health Clearance certificate for Clearance of Human Remains brought from Abroad or Death on board. Human remains coming from abroad are cleared after verifying the death certificates and embalming certificates and clearance certificates certifying that the human remains is free from Quarantinable diseases. Health clearance certificate is issued to relatives to take the dead body. Similarly, health clearance certificate for death on board the ship are issued.
10. Vaccination against Yellow Fever Yellow Fever Vaccination is given on Wednesdays and Fridays except holidays at a nominal fee of 300 rupees. Online registration is mandatory for yellow fever registration. Passport or copy of the passport should be brought. Yellow fever exemption certificate is also issued. Duplicate yellow fever vaccination certificate is also issued.
11. Issual of Central FSSAI Licence to food Business operators operating in Cochin Seaport. Port Health Officer, Port Health Organisation, Cochin is the designated officer for FSSAI in Cochin seaport for issual of FSSAI licence in the port
12. Health and sanitary inspection of port area. Vector surveillance of Cochin Port – for control of Rats, Flies and Mosquito –Aedes egypti within 400 meter periphery of Cochin Port. Port Health Organisation, Cochin supervises the sanitary works undertaken by Cochin Port Trust sanitary wing.
13. Any other tasks assigned by the Ministry.

Officer Incharge

Dr. K.A. Shyamini
        

Address :

Port Health Officer, Port Health Organisaiton, Willingdon island, Cochin – 682009.

Phone/Fax :

0484 2666060

Email :

pho[dot]cochin-dghs[at]gov[dot]in