Applications for Ship Sanitation Certificates should be made to the GGD effective 15 June 2008. This certificate replaces the Deratting Certificate and has been a compulsory requirement on board ships since 15 June 2007. It was introduced to prevent the worldwide spread of infectious diseases. Inspections are conducted on the basis of requirements laid down by the World Health Organization (WHO) and as incorporated under Dutch Law into the Public Health Act.
There are three types of certificate. A Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate (SSCEC) certifies that the ship has been inspected and found to be in order and is exempt from further inspections for a period of six months. A Ship Sanitation Control Certificate (SSCC) entails that the ship has been inspected and certain shortcomings discovered that are listed on the certificate. These shortcomings must be repaired, or otherwise resolved, and resubmitted for inspection. There is also an Extension of the Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate (ESSCEC). A ship is not entitled to a SSCEC in the port in which it is moored. The port authorities can however issue an extension to the old certificate for a period of one month, a so-called ESSCEC.
WHO Standards
WHO inspection guidelines stipulate that the following areas of the ship must be in order. (The term in order is understood to mean no sign of infection or contamination, which includes vermin in any stage of development; animal reservoirs for vermin and pests; microbiological, chemical, radioactive substances or other hazards to human health; and inadequate hygiene measures):
- galley and food areas
- pantry and storage rooms
- holds
- officer and crew accommodation
- drinking water
- sewage system
- ballast tanks
- waste (inc. medical waste)
- standing water
- engine room
- medical facilities
- swimming pools and spas
Schedule of Requirements
All WHO standards have been included in a Schedule of Requirements. An inspection checklist is provided for the levels required to meet these standards as inspected by the GGD. Download the English version of the Schedule of Requirements here.
Application Form
Please complete the application form, no less than two days before your expected arrival at the Den Helder harbour. Click here for the application form. You are kindly requested to fax the application form to fax number 0031 (088) 01 00 501. If you do not have a fax machine available, you can send the application form by e-mail to: ssc@ggdhollandsnoorden.nl. A GGD inspector will contact you as soon as possible to make an appointment. Please take into consideration the below stated average inspection times to fit the inspection into your schedule. Inspections are carried out from Monday-Friday 08.00 a.m.-05.00 p.m.
Inspection Costs
The table below lists the inspection costs for each type of ship. The hourly GGD rate is € 97,07.
ShipType | Duration | Maximum Costs |
Ships intended for use by less than 50 persons on board, excluding crew members | 4 hours | € 388,28 |
Ships intended for use by 50 – 500 persons on board, excluding crew members | 8 hours | € 776,56 |
Ships intended for use by more than 500 persons on board, excluding crew members | 12 hours | € 1164,84 |
Re-inspection Control Certificate | Hourly Rate | € 97,07 per hour |
Renew Certificate | | € 97,07 |
Call-Out Fee | Quarter-Hourly Rate | € 24,27 per 15 minutes |
- time indications listed above are maximum required inspection times;
- rates are indexed annually on the basis of the Local Authority Collective Labour Agreement index figures;
- no VAT is charged on inspection costs;
- for an inspection at Den Helder harbour a call-out fee of € 169,89 (7 x 15 min) will be charged.
Ports
Ship Sanitation Certificates can also be applied for at the following ports:
Rotterdam
Harlingen
Maassluis
Hellevoetsluis
Schiedam
Terneuzen
Velsen
IJmuiden
Delfzijl
Groningen
Vlaardingen
Vlissingen
Zaandam
If you want to apply for a Ship Sanitation Certificate in a harbour other than Den Helder, please visit www.shipsanitation.nl.