Water supplies on merchant ships should be potable and should not contain anything that is likely to cause sickness or injury to health. Potable water includes fresh water intended for drinking, washing, bathing and showering; for handling, preparing and cooking food; and for cleaning food storage and preparation areas, utensils and equipment.
Waterborne infections include gastrointestinal infections, which may lead to diarrhoeal illness and can come from a variety of bacteria and viruses; Legionella, which may cause Legionnaires Disease – a serious pneumonic disease; and Pseudomonas, a surface colonising bacteria that can heavily contaminate pipes, hoses and pools, and can cause folliculitis, ear and sinus infections.
Tyne Port Health Authority provides advice about the frequency and type of water examination and analysis that may be carried out depending upon the use of vessel. The Authority can also carry out water sampling on request.
To book water sampling, please notify us
We can sample Monday to Thursday
Unfortunately we are unable to carry out sampling on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
Information regarding charges can be found in the inspection fees section