European Manual for Hygiene Standards and Communicable Disease Surveillance on Passenger Ships

Edition 3, January 2026

ISBN 978-618-88230-0-6

Please click one of the links below to download the European Manual – Edition 3, January 2026:

• English (.pdf)

Overview

The European Manual for Hygiene Standards and Communicable Disease Surveillance on Passenger ships incorporates hygiene standards based on EU legislation and brings together best practice guidelines for passenger ships sailing within European waters. This manual is intended for passenger shipping companies and public health Authorities in European ports, who are responsible for passenger ship inspections.

This document consists of two Parts:

Part A describes the standards for hygiene inspections and communicable disease surveillance on board, which are a compilation of existing legislation, procedures and best practice.
Part B includes guidelines for the prevention and management of communicable disease on board passenger ships. Specific guidelines are given for dealing with Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI), including specific guidance during a pandemic, vaccine-preventable diseases, Legionnaires’ disease and gastroenteritis.

Edition 2, April 2016

ISBN 978-960-99647-3-9

Please click one of the links below to download the European Manual – Edition 2, April 2016:

• English (.pdf)
• Spanish (.pdf)
• Bulgarian (.pdf)
• Greek (.pdf)
• Italian (.pdf)
• German (.pdf)

Overview

The European Manual for Hygiene Standards and Communicable Disease Surveillance on Passenger ships incorporates hygiene standards based on EU legislation and brings together best practice guidelines for passenger ships sailing within European waters. This manual is intended for passenger shipping companies and public health inspectors in European ports, who are responsible for passenger ship inspections.

This document consists of two Parts:

Part A describes the standards for hygiene inspections and communicable disease surveillance on board, which are a compilation of existing legislation, procedures and best practice.
Part B includes guidelines for the prevention and management of communicable disease on board passenger ships. Specific guidelines are given for dealing with Influenza-Like Illness (ILI), general considerations for influenza pandemics, vaccine-preventable diseases, Legionnaires’ disease and gastroenteritis.