Ship Sanitation Certificate
As of 15 June 2007 the International Health Regulations (2005) (“IHR (2005)”) of the World Health Organisation to which Malta is signatory have introduced new certification procedures for ships as per regulations.
Malta’s ports are recognized to issue Ship Sanitation Certificates by the World Health Organisation’s IHR as per link. This is also entrusted to our Port Health Officials and the number of SHIPSANS performed by the Port Health Office – Health Inspectorate Services since 2016 can be found below:
The new certificates, entitled Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate/Ship Sanitation Control Certificate (“Ship Sanitation Certificates” or “SSC”), replace the previous Deratting/Deratting Exemption Certificates (“DC/DEC”) provided for under the IHR (1969). The advice that follows is designed to guide and facilitate the implementation of this international obligation.
Implementation of Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate/Ship Sanitation Control Certificate Articles 20, 27, 39 and Annex 3 of IHR (2005)
A Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate/Ship Sanitation Control Certificate should be is-sued every 6 months following a thorough inspection by Port Health Officials with the possibility to extend SSCEC for a period of one month until the ship arrives at a port at which the Ship Sanita-tion Control Certificate may be received.
Preparation for inspection of ship
Masters of ships are guided to have available the information listed for the smoothing running of the inspection. Masters of ships are required to comply with:
- European Manual for Hygiene Standards and Communicable Diseases Surveillance on Passenger Ships published by the EU SHIPSAN ACT.
- Handbook for Inspection of Ships and Issuance of Ship Sanitation Certification published by the WHO
Request for inspection of ship by Port Health Officials
Agents can download Request for Attendance of Port Health Officials (doc) and e-mail to [email protected]
If during the inspection,
- No evidence of a public health risk is found on board. The Port Health Services may issue a SSCEC.
- Evidence of a public health risk is found on board. The Port Health Services satisfactorily completes or supervises the completion of the necessary control measures and is required to issue a SSCC. If, in the opinion of the competent authority, the conditions under which control measures are carried out at the port are such that a satisfactory result cannot be ob-tained, this should be noted on the existing SSCC. The SSCC is valid for a maximum period of 6 months. The control measures must be completed before a further SSCC is issued.
In order to facilitate international marine traffic, WHO advises that the Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate/Ship Sanitation Control Certificate in Annex 3 of IHR (2005) be printed and completed in English and/or in French, and may also be completed in another language on the same document in addition to either English or French.
Charges for inspection and issue of Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate / Ship Sanitation Control Certificate
According to Public Health (Ships) Regulations, 2008 (L.N. 329 of 2008), Regulation 20, as amended by ACT No XIII of 2015 the fee for inspection and issuance of the Ship Sanitation Certificate is as follows:
| Net Tonnage | Fee |
|---|---|
|
Up to 1,000 |
€55.00 |
|
Over to 1,000 to 3,000 |
€77.00 |
|
Over to 3,000 to 10,000 |
€99.00 |
|
Over to 10,000 to 20,000 |
€121.00 |
|
Over to 20,000 to 50,000 |
€143.00 |
|
Over 50,000 |
€165.00 |
Last Updated on June 26, 2025