Inspections
ShareCompartir
On this Page
- What do VSP inspectors look at during a periodic sanitation inspection?
- How often are ships inspected?
- Do ships know when the inspection will occur?
- How are cruise ships scored?
- Are ships required to correct violations found during inspections?
- What happens if a ship fails an inspection?
- When would VSP recommend that a ship not sail?
- Where can I find inspection scores and reports?
- How much do inspections cost?
- When do construction and renovation inspections occur?
- What’s involved in a construction or renovation inspection?
- How much do construction/renovation inspections cost?
Periodic Operational Sanitation Inspections
Why does the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) conduct operational sanitation inspections?
VSP inspectors conduct operational sanitation inspections to determine how well ships are operating and maintaining sanitation standards in accordance with the current VSP Operations Manual [PDF – 2.9 MB].
Inspectors provide public health guidance to cruise ship staff when standards are out of compliance. At the end of inspections, inspectors write a report describing inspection findings and recommendations.
Inspections are unannounced, and they are done while a ship is in a U.S. port.
What do VSP inspectors look at during a periodic sanitation inspection?
Depending on the size of the ship, one to four inspectors examine the ship to see if it complies with the public health standards found in the current VSP Operations Manual [PDF – 2.9 MB].
VSP inspects eight major areas on ships:
| Major Areas VSP Inspects on a Ship | Inspectors Look At |
|---|---|
| Medical facilities | Documentation for gastrointestinal illness surveillance Medical logs |
| Potable water systems | Procedures from water source to storage until use Water distribution Protection and any cross-connections Disinfection process |
| Swimming pools and whirlpool spas | Filtration Disinfection General maintenance Safety |
| Galleys and dining rooms | Food protection during sourcing, provisioning, storage, preparation, and service Employee health and personal hygiene Facility equipment maintenance and dishwashing |
| Child activity centers | Properly equipped diaper changing stations, toilets, and handwashing stations Facility disinfection Infection control for ill children |
| Hotel accommodations | Routine cleaning sequences and infection control procedures during outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness, including the use of appropriate disinfectants and outbreak policies |
| Ventilation systems | System maintenance System cleaning |
| Common areas of the ship | Integrated pest management strategies General cleanliness Maintenance |
At the end of each inspection, VSP inspectors meet with ship management to discuss inspection violations and give them a draft inspection report. Within 2 weeks of the inspection, VSP sends a final copy of the inspection report to the ship’s cruise line.
How often are ships inspected?
Cruise ships under VSP’s jurisdiction are subject to two inspections each year. If a ship sails outside of the United States for an extended period of time, it may not be inspected twice a year, but it will be inspected again when it returns to the United States.
Do ships know when the inspection will occur?
No. The twice-yearly inspections are unannounced.
Cruise ships are scored on a 100-point scale. Inspection criteria are defined in the current VSP Operations Manual [PDF – 2.9 MB]. Criteria are assigned a point value; when there’s a violation, inspection points are deducted from the score.
Points are deducted from that score based on public health significance. An 85 or below is a failing score. All scores are posted on the VSP website.
Are ships required to correct violations found during inspections?
Yes. Although ships are responsible for correcting all violations, some critical violations must be corrected immediately. Each ship must submit a Corrective Action Statement describing how the violations were corrected.
Some violations can be corrected during the inspection; others may take longer to correct.
What happens if a ship fails an inspection?
Ships that fail inspections are reinspected within a reasonable time period.
When would VSP recommend that a ship not sail?
VSP may recommend that the ship not sail if there are imminent public health risks including the following:
- Inability to properly chlorinate potable (drinking) water.
- Inability to keep food within safe temperatures.
- Inadequate facilities for cleaning and sanitizing equipment.
- Inability to properly dispose of solid or liquid waste.
VSP may also recommend a ship not sail during an infectious disease outbreak where continuing normal operations may subject newly arriving passengers to disease.
Where can I find inspection scores and reports?
Inspection reports and scores as well as corrective action statements are available on the VSP website.
Cruise ship owners pay a fee based on the ship’s size for operational inspections and reinspections.
Fees
Schedule, October 1, 2017-September 30, 2018
Fee Schedule for Each Vessel Size
| Vessel Size (GRT1) | Inspection Fee |
|---|---|
| Extra Small (<3,000 GRT) | US$1,495 |
| Small (3,001-15,000 GRT) | US$2,990 |
| Medium (15,001-30,000 GRT) | US$5,980 |
| Large (30,001-60,000 GRT) | US$8,970 |
| Extra Large (60,001-120,000 GRT) | US$11,960 |
| Mega (>120,001 GRT) | US$17,940 |
1Gross register tonnage in cubic feet, as shown in Lloyd’s Register of Shipping.
The fee schedule is also posted in the Federal Register.
Consultation for Construction and Renovation
What’s involved in the construction and renovation process?
At the cruise industry’s request, VSP provides consultation during cruise ship construction and renovation. We analyze the ship’s design during plan reviews to eliminate environmental health risks and to incorporate modifications that create healthy environments.
VSP involvement may include
- review of construction/renovation plans and
- technical support through emails and phone calls.
Construction plan reviews are based on the current VSP Construction Guidelines [PDF – 2.9 MB]. VSP generally focuses on the following areas during these reviews:
| General Areas | What VSP Looks At |
|---|---|
| Equipment and facilities | Standards, parts, and placements and hygiene requirements |
| Food areas | Buffet lines, galleys, provision rooms, refrigerators, bar areas, and dining rooms |
| Warewashing and waste management | Proper setup and handling |
| Swimming pools and spas | Drains, pumps, filters, safety, and disinfection |
| Water systems | Bunkering, storage, distribution, disinfection, and cross-connections/backflow prevention |
How much do construction/renovation plan reviews cost?
VSP does not charge a fee for plan reviews or consultations related to renovations or new cruise ships.
- Page last reviewed: February 14, 2017
- Page last updated: July 18, 2017
- Content source: