Request a ship sanitation certificate

A Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate (SSCEC) confirms that your ship has been inspected by the HSE and is free from public health risks, such as disease vectors, infection, or contamination.

The certificate proves that your vessel complies with the International Health Regulations (IHR) and exempts it from further sanitary inspections for 6 months. The certificate can be revoked if health risks are later discovered.

If a health risk is found, and you have successfully carried out control measures, the HSE issues a Ship Sanitation Control Certificate (SSCC).

How to apply

To apply for an inspection to get a certificate, please follow these steps:

1. Choose a port where you want the inspection to take place.
2. Complete the inspection request form.
3. Email it to the Environmental Health Office over the port you will be docked at.
4. Pay the applicable fee.

Before you start

You will need the following information:

• ship details
• inspection arrangements including the estimated time of arrival and departure and contact details

Costs

The costs for an examination depend on the size of your ship:

• below 1,001 gross tonnage: € 140.00
• 1,001 to 3,000 gross tonnage: € 180.00
• 3,001 to 10,000 gross tonnage: € 270.00
• 10,001 to 20,000 gross tonnage: € 350.00
• 20,001 to 50,000 gross tonnage: € 480.00
• 50,000 gross tonnage: € 550.00

The fee for an Extension Certificate is €100.00.

What happens next

A date, time, and charge for the inspection will be confirmed by phone with the contact person on the application.

If the Environmental Health Officer (EHO) carrying out the inspection is satisfied that the ship is maintained in such a condition that is not a danger to public health or the spread of infection, they will issue a Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate.

If the EHO is of the opinion that the ship is a danger to public health or the spread of infection, they will give directions for necessary control measures that you need to carry out in the designated port.

After you have completed the control measures, the EHO will issue a Ship Sanitation Control Certificate.

What you need to know

Ship Sanitation Certificates are issued under the International Health Regulation 2005 and transposed into Irish law under the Infectious Diseases (Shipping) Regulations 2008.

The National Environmental Health Service IHR activities include ship and aircraft inspection, assessment of Maritime Declarations of Health, issuing and assessment of Ship Sanitation Certificates, infectious disease surveillance, investigation, and control of outbreaks of illness and monitoring of potential hazards.

Please allow two working days’ notice when requesting a new Ship Sanitation Exemption Control Certificate.

Ship sanitation inspections are conducted in ports authorised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).