Biosafety of marine vessels: current trends and prospects.

BACKGROUND: The global aggravation of the political situation in the world against the background of catastrophic changes in the Earth's ecology is inexorably growing. Despite the fact that most ships are equipped with Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP), pollution of the World Ocean remains a serious problem. One of the main reasons contributing to the pollution of the sea by ships is the lack of the ship's environmental protection equipment necessary for the work. Thus, the adoption of measures to prevent the discharge of raw sewage from ships and improve the quality of their treatment is of paramount importance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of comprehensive surveys of ship WWTP operation in the ports of Ukraine for 2009-2010 are analysed - the most intensive period of navigation in the last 20 years. To assess the quality of wastewater treatment, samples were taken for laboratory studies in accordance with the requirements of the "State Sanitary Rules and Norms for Discharge of Waste, Oily, Ballast Water and Garbage from Ships into Water Bodies", No. 199, 09/07/1997. RESULTS: The results of laboratory studies of wastewater after treatment on shipboard WWTP, conducted in the Black Sea ports of Ukraine in 2009-2010, show the unsatisfactory quality of their treatment according to the main regulated national and international indicators. CONCLUSIONS: Taking into account the results of surveys of foreign ships conducted in 2009-2010, the studied literature, we consider our study worthy of serious reflection in order to understand the current situation on ships equipped with WWTP installations, determine priority areas for ensuring their efficient operation and preventing pollution of water bodies by untreated waste carrying the threat of contamination of residents of coastal areas with pathogens of dangerous infectious diseases transmitted by water, toxic substances that are detrimental to the flora and fauna of the oceans.

Multi-purpose transport monitoring of passenger-cargo traffic in Ukraine.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiological and environmental security of states is the most important component for the functioning of the International Transport Corridors (ITC). The growing capacity of passenger and cargo flows increases the risk of the spread of dangerous infectious diseases in the territories of the countries on the route of the ITC. Preventing the introduction of dangerous infections by various vehicles and the activation of local natural foci are the priority in the anti-epidemic provision of the population of Ukraine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study of the features of the functioning of border checkpoints (BCPs) for various types of transport in different regions of Ukraine made it possible to create their classification, taking into account the nature of the goods and the intensity of passenger traffic. RESULTS: The functioning of 204 checkpoints in 20 different localities, employing more than 29,000 specialists, was studied. When conducting a retrospective epidemiological analysis of documentation for maritime, aviation, road and rail transport for 2000-2013, non-compliance with sanitary-hygienic and anti-epidemic requirements to prevent the introduction and spread of dangerous infections and their carriers were revealed. The authors scientifically substantiated recommendations on sanitary-hygienic and anti-epidemic support of the BСP. Based on the results of a survey of 112 BCPs (54.9 ± 1.2%), taking into account the degree of epidemiological danger in the areas of their operation, indicators of the presence of rodents, blood-sucking insects and the nature of the goods transported, five epidemic zones were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Inadequate operation of the BCP was expressed in non-compliance with sanitary and anti- -epidemic requirements. Control of the personal property of passengers and luggage was less than 30%. The analysis of the functioning of the BCPs made it possible to unify their work and identify priority areas for improvement.