[Report 1949] / Medical Officer of Health, River Tees Port Health Authority.

  • River Tees Port Health Authority.
Date:
1949
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1949] / Medical Officer of Health, River Tees Port Health Authority. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    RIVER TEES PORT HEALTH AUTHORITY. To The Chairman and Members of the River Tees Port Health Authority. 26, Southfield Road, Middlesbrough, February, 1950. Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have pleasure in submitting the 63rd Annual Report of the River Tees Port Health Authority, for the year ended 31st December, 1949. Details are given in the body of the report regarding the scope of the work of the Authority. The staff have continued to give close supervision in order to safeguard against the possible introduction of sea-borne infectious diseases, to ascertain the sanitary condition of vessels entering the port ; and the purity of foodstuffs imported. The number of vessels entering the port, particularly from foreign ports, has continued to increase, and the figures for 1949 show an increase over those for 1948, both in regard to numbers and tonnage. Experience of inspection of vessels during the year has shown that the accommodation for crews on all new ships is vastly improved on that provided in pre-war vessels. Most of the older vessels have now had this accommodation re-constructed and improved, and in many cases to a standard comparing favourably with that of new vessels. Few vessels reaching this port now remain with the old type of open fore¬ castle so common pre-war. There has also been a general improvement in cleanliness of crews' accommodation, although in many instances this has left a lot to be desired. Lack of cleanliness has been more noticeable still on British vessels than on foreign vessels. There has also been a marked decrease in the number of vessels arriving in the port infested with rats and vermin since the war. The port continued to be recognised as an approved port under the Aliens Order 1920. Whilst there was a marked rise in the number of British passengers arriving in the port, there was a decrease in the number of Aliens compared with the figures for 1948. The new launch, Mercie II, was finally delivered in April, 1949. The staff had been considerably handicapped in their work, since the old launch Mercie I had been declared no longer seaworthy. The new launch has proved highly satis¬ factory, much more economical in running than the old steam launch, and has facilitated the work of the medical and inspectorial staff, since its arrival. Further details about the Launch are given in the report.