Introduction:
WHO (World Health Organization) Handbook for SSEC (Ship Sanitation Exemption certificate) inspections1 and the Shipsan Manual2 required that passenger shipping operators should apply hazard analysis principles and implement a Water Safety Plan (WSP) in order to ensure the safety and quality of potable water that is provided to passengers and crew. The risk analysis is required also from EU Directive 2020/2184, on the quality of water for human consumption that also introduce new biological/chemical parameters to check.

Methods:
Liguria Health Port Authority, according to the abovementioned documents and Italian National Institute of Health guideline4, has drafted a check list for Water Safety Plan Assessment specific for passenger ships (cruise and ferry) with a simplified version dedicated to commercial yachts. The list includes: A) WSP team established (including training) B) System assessment C) Operational monitoring D) Management plan.

Results:
The pilot phase of WSP check list implementations has shown that in many cases (especially on yachts) there is not a ship WSP but only laboratory check reports of water quality. We have reported incomplete plans (especially in areas regarding hazard analysis and team establishment/training). Finally, we have also found reports of laboratory not accredited UNI Cei EN ISO/IEC 17025.

Conclusions:
The complete implementation of water safety plans on passenger ships (cruise and ferry) and on commercial yachts is a key factor very important to prevent biological, chemical, physic and radiological risks. To reach this goal in maritime sector it is necessary to develop A) Training and practical tools for inspectors (like the check list presented here) B) Program of collaboration and training with WSP ship team and ship public health officers C) Sharing of best practices about WSP D) Introduction on board practice and in the revision of Shipsan Manual of the indication to check the new parameters laid down from community legislation.