Port Health Authority
The Port Health Authority Rotterdam deals with health care in the port of Rotterdam.
Here you will find information on everything regarding health matters. Since the creation of the Port Health Authority Rotterdam in 2009, the Harbour Coordination Centre has been the point of contact for vessels, crew members and other parties working in the port of Rotterdam.
INCIDENT FIGHTERS
In addition to the Fire Service, Police and the Regional Medical Assistance Organisation (GHOR), the Harbour Master is one of the emergency services in the municipal organisation for controlling incidents. The Harbour Coordination Centre has a direct connection to the control rooms of other key services.
Port Health Authority Rotterdam (PHAR)
The Port Health Authority Rotterdam is the competent authority for the management of infectious diseases in the port of Rotterdam. The Port Coordination Centre is the contact desk for ships, crew and other parties working in the port of Rotterdam. The parties working with the PHAR include: Rotterdam-Rijnmond Municipal Health Service, the Harbour Health Centre, Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam (EMC), Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution (KNRM), the Dutch Coastguard, Rotterdam-Rijnmond Safety Region, Dutch Food and Commodities Authority, Seaport Police, Radio Medical Service, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and the Harbour Master. The Harbour Master Division and the Rotterdam-Rijnmond Municipal Health Service are coordinating the response to COVID-19 (the coronavirus) and they consult daily.
The Port Health Authority Rotterdam is a cooperation between the following parties:
- Municipal Public Health Services Rotterdam-Rijnmond
- Port Health Centre
- Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution (KNRM)
- Coast Guard
- Safety Region Rotterdam-Rijnmond
- Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority
- Erasmus MC
- Seaport police
- Netherlands Radio Medical Service
- Port of Rotterdam Authority and the (State) Harbour Master
Infectious disease control
An important aspect of the Port Health Authority is infectious disease control. Infectious diseases can spread more easily due to the increase in international traffic. Therefore, more attention is paid globally to infectious diseases. The SARS epidemic in 2003 was the immediate cause for the WHO to renew the International Health Regulations. With the signing of the IHR in 2005, the WHO Member States stressed that they will commit to these international agreements in the field of infectious disease control. In the Netherlands, the IHR was included in the Public Health Act on 1 December 2008. As a consequence, the port of Rotterdam must provide a plan for emergencies, a quarantine room and an emergency service in case of outbreaks of infectious diseases.
Read more about infectious diseases on the site of the GGD
Coronavirus
Update: September 26, 2022
Booster vaccination
Booster vaccination now also available for seafarers. Information on how to obtain this vaccination can be found on the KVNR website.
From Monday, September 26, 2022, seafarers can receive a repeat COVID-19 vaccination by Arbo Unie.
In case of any questions you may send an e-mail.
Report cases of illness on board in port
Should cases of illness nevertheless occur on board during the stay in port, it is mandatory to report them. This also applies to narrative and departing ships. For this you can contact the Port Coordination Centre by telephone +31(0)10-2521000.
Yellow flag (quarantine)
In the Netherlands, the MDoH is used to report possible infectious diseases to the authorities. Some countries work with a yellow quarantine flag. This is not necessary in the Netherlands.
As soon as a ship has submitted an MDoH and it has been assessed by the Municipal Health Service, the captain will be informed whether additional measures are necessary. If a ship continues to sail under a yellow flag, we request you to inform the Port Coordination Centre (+31 (0)10 252 1000 or VHF channel 11). If there are any relevant changes, you will be informed here.
Procedure for the Maritime Declaration of Health (MDoH)
All seagoing vessels visiting the Port of Rotterdam must submit a valid Maritime Declaration of Health (MDoH).
Regardless of the health situation on board. As from September 1, 2021 the MDOH must be submitted by the agent to the Harbour Coordination Center via Portbase (PCS). The MDoH must be submitted to Pilot boarding Place (PBP) at least 6 hours prior to arrival and must not be older than 24 hours. In case of a positive MDoH, Port of Rotterdam will forward the MDoH to the regional GGD.
This obligation also applies to fishing vessels that make an international voyage (and also call at foreign ports). In addition, the port authority (Harbour Master's Division) can, in certain cases, explicitly ask to send in an MDOH. Any symptoms and/or complaints of Corona must always be reported via an MDOH.
The Port Coordination Centre coordinates the follow-up and asks the Rotterdam-Rijnmond Municipal Health Service for recommendations about the reported case.
In addition, we follow the national guidelines. To limit the spread of the coronavirus as much as possible, everyone is advised to respect hygiene measures. These are:
- Keep 1.5 meters distance
- Wash your hands regularly
- Cough and sneeze on the inside of your elbow
- Use paper tissues and throw them away immediately after using them once
- Touch your nose, mouth and face as little as possible.
- Do not shake hands
It is also very important as an employer to comply with government recommendations relating to your employees. In this way, we can prevent the spread of the virus among our employees and any possible spread by employees going on board vessels.
Additional rules for sea and river cruise
The following rules apply to sea cruise ships: Framework of agreements for seagoing cruise ships.
The rules for river cruise will follow soon.
Policy on reporting health situation
See the rules on covid in the port.
Entry rules for travellers from very high risk areas (requirement to stay at home or in your accommodation) (Dutch Government)
Procedure notification infectious diseases
Do you have a person on board with a (suspected) infectious disease? Do you work in the port of Rotterdam and do you suspect or have you observed that a ship has a patient with an infectious disease on board? Then you must report this to the Port Health Authority. The Port Health Authority Rotterdam has to respond quickly to prevent a possible spread of infectious diseases. Therefore, it is important that the infectious disease is reported as quickly as possible.
Ship Sanitation Certificate
Would you like to apply for an inspection and the issuance of a Ship Sanitation Certificate? Please submit your application as soon as possible. The Municipal Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond (GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond) is responsible for the issuance of Ship Sanitation Certificates. Requests for a Ship Sanitation Certificate for Moerdijk should be sent to the GGD Zuid-Holland Zuid.
Medical Facilities
Do you need medical attention for a person on board a ship? Rotterdam has medical facilities focused specifically on shipping.
More information? Contact:
