Loaded & Unloaded - Helsingborgs Hamn AB

Helsingborg quarantine port
Helsingborg’s border inspection post is one of Sweden’s most
modern. It has been specially designed with three hygiene zones
in order to meet the EU’s and Swedish authorities’ strict hygiene
requirements. The premises now have an additional area of use:
as a quarantine facility.
The new border inspection post in the West Harbour.
The Port of Helsingborg has been
appointed a quarantine port, one of
ten in Sweden. This means that if we
get a call from a ship’s captain saying
that there is an infectious disease on
board, we have a duty to allot them
a berth. Quite simply, we are not allowed
to refuse them.
Perfect premises!
The Port already has premises that
are suitable for quarantine. In fact, the
premises couldn’t be better.
”The border inspection post has three
hygiene zones,” explains Christer
Nilsson, who is environmental coordinator
for the Port. ”Each part has
a completely separate ventilation system
to prevent the risk of infection
spreading. Ventilation is extremely
important with regard to infections
and epidemics, and the infection control
practitioner thought the premises
were perfect.”
Border inspection is interrupted temporarily
in emergencies, and the premises
are converted into quarantine.
An infection control practitioner is
contacted and comes to the Port. The
vessel is then taken to a special berth
from where the crew can be taken to
the premises. There is always a doctor
on call in the region for this purpose.
Stay on board please
”It is of course best if those infected
stay on board,” says Christer Nilsson,
”but if the disease is serious they can
be taken ashore. First they are taken
to the Port premises and then possibly
to the Infections Clinic at the
Helsingborg General Hospital. So far,
thankfully nothing has happened, but
when bird flu prevailed we were on
full alert and went out with information.”
There must be a plan
In addition to providing premises, the
Port has a duty to draw up a plan to
prevent any infection from spreading.
A completely new infection control
plan, compiled by the Port of Helsingborg
together with the City of Helsingborg,
Region Skåne and infection
control practitioners, will be determined
shortly. This deals with berth,
quarantine premises, cordoning off,
procedures, chain of alarm and checklists.
Christer Nilsson, Environment Coordinator,
the Port of Helsingborg.
The infection control practitioner and
the City bear the main responsibility.
If an emergency situation does arise,
they are the ones who must ensure
complete decontamination, such as of
every single piece of luggage on the
ship.
Cruise with many infected passengers
”The cruise ships are efficient and
always isolate their patients quickly,”
explains Christer Nilsson. “They also
alter their destinations if there is infection
at a port of call. They cannot afford
risking the ship being put in quarantine.
A vessel normally has a crew
of 30–40, and we can cope with that
in the Port. But if a whole cruise ship
were to be subjected to infection, the
passengers would have to be evacuated
to other premises such as a military
site.”
The Port of Helsingborg is a very important
pawn in the game. Our port is
well suited to being a quarantine port
on account of its strategic location
halfway along the strait.
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