Port Health Authority
Heysham Port Health Authority Logo
The Heysham Port Health Authority Statutory Order was renewed in 2011. The authority district encompasses the port areas of Heysham Port, Glasson Dock and Lancaster Quay.
Please use the links below and in the left hand menu for further information.
Introduction
Lancaster Port Health Authority was first formed in 1891, although since then the City of Lancaster port ceased trading when a new bridge was built across the River Lune in Lancaster.
Due to changes in health legislation we are currently in the process of upgrading the Port Health Authority Order. The main change for seafarers will be the change in name to the Heysham Port Health Authority, bringing the port district in line with customs definitions. As a result all Ship Sanitation Certificates will become null and void. When this occurs new certificates will be issued to the agents involved.
Heysham Port was built to meet the needs of the area and is still a busy port, mainly dealing in roll-on roll-off traffic and cargo to Ireland and the Isle of Man. Ancillary to these movements is a supply base to the Morecambe Bay gasfield and wind farm.
Glasson Dock is a large marina and small port to the south of Lancaster. This terminal mainly deals with vessels carrying bulk cargo and containerised traffic to the Isle of Man.
Lancaster still has one berth on the River Lune, however this has not been used for a number of years.
Responsibilities
The Port Health Authority team has responsibility for all food safety matters relating to imported foods including:
• Imported food control (non-animal origin products) at Heysham Port and Glasson Docks.
• Inspections of vessels, documentation and medical lockers for infectious disease.
• Inspection of vessels to enforce UK and international standards for food hygiene.
• Enforcing catering waste and animal by-product directives.
• Issuing of ship sanitation certificates.
• Working in partnership with related agencies.
• Sampling quayside and bunded water supplies.
• Inspection of food premises within port boundaries.
• Enforcing current smoking legislation quayside and in commercial vehicles and premises.
Lancaster’s port health team have a close working relationship with Heysham Port and Glasson Port Commission management to ensure checks of ports and vessels are undertaken at convenient times.
The port authority is managed by Mr Andre Hunt, MCIEH, and staffed by a bank of four Port Health Officers and one Port Health Technician.
Additionally a number of partners have a presence at the ports, including port medical officers (on-call doctors) from the local primary care trust, animal health officers, port police and legal services.
Current Ship Movements and Tides
Live ship movements from the Port of Heysham and Glasson Dock
This site also gives wider information on shipping movements around the country.
High and low water times and heights for Heysham
Noted that the Glasson tide times vary slightly from the Heysham times.
Contact Us
Monday to Friday 7.30am to 7.30pm (except Bank Holidays)
Heysham Port Health Authority, Lancaster City Council, Morecambe Town Hall, Marine Road, Morecambe. LA4 5AF
Tel +0044 1524 582936
Fax +0044 1524 582709
Email: environmentalhealth@lancaster.gov.uk
Out of hours contact number: 01524 67099
Garbage (Catering Waste) Information for Mariners
The Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Regulations 2006 and Animal By Products Regulation 2005 (as amended) were put in place following the foot and mouth outbreak just after the millennium.
This legislation states that vessels operating internationally, upon entering the European Union, must completely empty, clean and disinfect the galley and storage areas, and confirm the vessel has not left the EU since stores were replenished.
To confirm the above action has taken the captain or master of the vessel is required to complete the Disposal of Catering Waste Annex C form:
Should the vessel not comply with this requirement all waste on board must go for incineration as a category one waste or rendering that is agreed with the Port Health Authority before commencement.
Our Partners
We also work with the following partner agencies to ensure consistency and transparency.