Introduction

The Hull & Goole Port Health Authority is a Joint Board local authority originally constituted as the Hull & Goole Port Sanitary Authority in 1888 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 Authority was renamed to its present title in 1937 by an amendment to the Port Order, with reference to the Public Health Act 1936.

The latest Port Order of 1982, amended in 1996 following the demise of Humberside County Council, 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 Mr Kim Ryley 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, the River Hull and Hessle Dock. 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 “as far as the tide shall flow” which theoretically means up to Naburn Lock, south of York and Cromwell Lock, north of Newark.

Our Head Office is situated at 257 Hessle Road in Kingston-upon-Hull.

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 3 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. 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. Goole is the largest inland port in the UK and continues to thrive. Major developments on the South Bank continue apace and trade through the inland Trent wharves continues at a high level. The Port of Howden has seen recent large developments and is very busy.

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

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. 

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. Please use this link for further information www.ukresilience.info/home.htm

The Authority is a member of the Humber Local Resilience Forum and the Community Risk Register can by accessed by the following web-link www.humberlocalresilienceforum.org.uk

The Humber Emergency Planning Service web-link is http://heps.eastriding.gov.uk/

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

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