1. It’s a document that depicts ship’s compliance with maritime sanitation and quarantine rules laid down by IHR of WHO.
2. It’s a proof that ship is free of clear sources of contagion and is a requirement for permission of entry into port.
3. Issued by competent health authorities after inspections.
4. It has a validity of 6 months.
5. Certificates can be of two types:
> Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate – issued to a vessel that has passed inspections verifying that the ship is free of animal vectors, potential diseases or ill humans.
> Ship Sanitation Control Certificate – issued to vessel when a health risk is found and control measures (fumigation etc) has been carried out.
6. It replaces the deratting certificate of 2007.