Every year in the fall season it is the meeting time for the Port Health community in Germany. The scientific meeting takes place in one of the port cities of the country. This time: Bremerhaven. Most port health inspectors and port health doctors of the country come together to exchange views and to listen to the presentations. One of the presentations was delivered by Christoph Sevenich. He talked about two issues: First he informed about the dangers of radioactive contamination of scrap. He showed ways how to measure radioactive contamination and ways to be protected. On the other hand he informed the audience on the SHIPSAN Information system for recording and issuing Ship Sanitation Certificates under the International Health Regulations 2005 for all types of ships sailing in European Union. It was easy for him to convince even more of the attendants to use this truly European Information system for recording and issuing Ship Sanitation Certificates under the International Health Regulations 2005 for all types of ships sailing in European Union. Talking about SHIPSAN: The talk of Christoph Sevenich made it an easy task for me, Martin Dirksen-Fischer, to inform the crowd about another SHIPSAN ACT activity: the questionnaire dealing with hygienic aspects of inland waterway vessels, especially cruise ships. The audience was most interested to discuss this field of maritime medicine as well as they were eager to hear about the ongoing inspections taking place at the moment under the SHIPSAN auspice all over Europe. When Peter Hüsing finished the meeting with a summary it was easy to agree: another “Hafenarzttagung” has successfully taken place.

P.S: Next time we will meet in Neuss! It is an inland waterway harbor by the way! Ask me for details! Be there!

 Dr.med. Martin Dirksen-Fischer, Behörde für Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz, Institut für Hygiene und Umwelt Hamburg Port Health Center