Introduction

The Hull & Goole Port Health Authority is a Joint Board local authority partnership originally constituted as the Hull & Goole Port Sanitary Authority on 11 June 1887 by virtue of a Statutory Instrument (Port Order) by Parliament.

Authority Minutes 1896-1907 are available at www.movinghere.org.uk (enter hull & goole in search field) and provide a fascinating insight into the history of the Authority and conditions on board vessels at that time.

The latest Port Order of March 2011 sets out the area of jurisdiction, one of the largest in the UK. It specifies the local representation by Elected Members of each of the 3 constituent Riparian Authorities (local authorities with ports within their districts). These are:

Hull City Council
(www.hullcc.gov.uk)

East Riding of Yorkshire Council
(www.eastriding.gov.uk)

North Lincolnshire Council
(www.northlincs.gov.uk)

• The Authority is funded by a levy against each of the 3 authorities which is agreed annually.
• The Authority Chairman is Councillor Steve Brady of Hull City Council
• The Clerk to the Authority is Nicola Yates of Hull City Council

The above map shows the extent of the Authority's area which on the north bank of the River Humber goes from just east of Paull and covers Saltend jetties, Hull Docks, and the River Hull. We include the Port of Howden and Goole Docks on the River Ouse together with the extensive River Trent wharves within our area. The south Humber ports of Barrow Haven, New Holland, North and South Killingholme up to and including The Humber International Terminal at Immingham are also a large part of our area.

The Ouse and Trent extremities are those areas within the boundary of North Lincolnshire Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council. 

The Authority is managed by Mr Laurence Dettman, MCIEH, the Chief Port Health Inspector and staffed by 4 specialist Port Health Inspectors (Environmental Health Officers), 1 Technical Support Officer and 2 full-time Administrative Assistants. We also have a number of additional part-time appointments; Official Veterinary Surgeons at the EU Border Inspection Post at Hull Docks, Port Medical Officers (Doctors on-call) from the Health Protection Agency (HPA), Port Analyst, Food Examiner (Microbiological), Clerk to the Authority, Legal Services etc.

The Humber Ports complex is the busiest in the UK and have the fourth largest share of world tonnage in Northern Europe. Our ports are poised to take advantage of the rapid major developments in off-shore wind turbine technology.

There are over 40000 annual shipping movements and trade is booming with more than 90 million tonnes of cargo annually. Our ports have seen a transformation with major investment by Associated British Ports (www.humber.com) and others.

The Authority is a member of the Association of Port Health Authorities, our national body which coordinates the work of UK authorities and gives an input into government policy and decision making and promotes consistency of enforcement and best practice www.porthealth.co.uk . The 2012 APHA Port Health Handbook can be downloaded from the following link; http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1uwsp/AssociationofPortHea/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=

Ships arrive in our ports from all corners of the globe with an infinite variety of cargoes, many of which are of interest to our highly trained officers who enforce the relevant legislation. They are also available to offer advice or refer enquiries to other agencies.

We aim to provide an effective, professional and highly efficient service without placing undue burdens on business. We recognise that shipping is a dynamic and global business which requires a high level of expertise and practical understanding in applying legislative controls and checks. Our foremost objective is the protection of public, animal and environmental health. We will be open and accountable in everything we do. Please refer to our Enforcement Policies which can be found on this web-site.

The Humber Emergency Planning Service web-link is
www.heps.gov.uk

We maintain close links with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) http://www.cieh.org/ through the Port Health Special Interest Group (SIG):-
www.cieh.org

Latest weekly news can be seen at
http://www.ehn-online.com/

Our Annual Service Plan can be found on the "Our Service" page.

If you are not satisfied with our standard of service please refer to our Service Complaints Policy (on the Our Service webpage) and contact the Chief Port Health Inspector at the Hull Office.

The Authority is a "Category 1 Responder" under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. This places our officers in the front line of Emergency Planning and response. Please use this link for further information
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk

The Authority is a member of the Humber Local Resilience Forum.