New Examination Facilities put Felixstowe Ahead
A new ambient-temperature food examination facility has been formally opened at the Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain, by Transport Minister, Robert Goodwill MP. The £4 million investment included a major refurbishment and expansion of the examination facilities and the provision of new offices for Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority. “This new state-of-the-art facility will ensure that vital imported products stay as fresh as possible. Some 40 per cent of the food on our supermarket shelves arrives by sea, so it must be checked efficiently in the most hygienic conditions. “The new inspection facilities are built to an incredibly high standard – safe, clean and hygienic – to maintain the integrity of the food chain to the highest requirements of upcoming legislation.
Brazil Ports Still Suffer Strike Delays
The 50-days old nationwide Port Authorities strike continues to cause delays in some, but not all Brazilian ports. The strike of customs officers is affecting vessel’s clearance and other matters that require their attention such as crew replacement and spare parts clearance. Immigration is attending only once a day around 1600 to 1700hrs. The agents must stay there in advance to grant the services as ship clearance, crew changes etc. It is unclear of the impacts of the strike on ship's clearance and crew/passengers replacements. However delays are also expected within the next few days. Port health authority remains on strike and free pratique is being granted for 30% of demand. In Rio de Janeiro port, free pratique may take 72 hours to be granted.
Seven Foreign Ships Detained in U.K. in July
Control safety inspection. under detention from previous months. detentions in comparison to June. decrease of 0.3% compared to June's 12 month rate. for 1 day at the London International Cruise Terminal, Tilbury. was carried out in conjunction with London Port Health Authority. nautical publications not up to date. with cockroaches and poor quality of drinking water. relevant areas. in the drinking water was not being adequately controlled. standards. Measures were put in to place to rectify the deficiencies. cargo ship was detained in Southampton on 28th July 2004. a poor condition with 49 deficiencies recorded. the ship met the requirements of the relevant International conventions. The ship is still under detention at the end of July.
