Any health event occurring on board a ship making an international voyage and likely to constitute a risk to public health is subject to compulsory notification to the harbour master’s office of the port in which it calls. This notification is made by transmitting the maritime declaration of health mentioned in article 37 of the International Health Regulations (2005) twenty-four hours before entering the port. The harbour master’s office forwards the maritime declaration of health to the regional health agency. The prefect may subject the ship to an inspection by the agents mentioned in article L. 3115-1.
The representative of the State with territorial jurisdiction, after obtaining the opinion of the regional health agency, may in all circumstances ask a ship to transmit the maritime declaration of health in accordance with the provisions of the first paragraph.