To avoid the importation of exotic and disease carrying mosquitoes, port disinsection
officers from the Mosquito Research & Control Unit spray aircraft, containers
and vessels entering the Cayman Islands.
Disinsection of Aircraft
and Ships
Aircraft disinsection is required under the Mosquito
(Research & Control) Law (16 of 1966) (1998 Revision), Section 25 (Disinsection
of aircraft and ships).
All aircraft and ships calling at the islands (inter-island craft included)
shall be disinsected on arrival, either on landing or when boarded by Immigration,
a fee to be prescribed by Regulation of the Governor for an aircraft or ship
being levied to defray the costs of this service, which may be recovered from
the owner of such ships and aircraft as a civil debt at the suit of the Director.
Agents for all ships and operators of marinas hosting sea-going vessels
either calling at Grand Cayman or operating from Grand Cayman shall -
register their names and the names of the ships
they represent with the Unit;
from time to time inform the Unit of any change
of representation in repsect of any ship or the name of any additional ship
for which they may act as agent;
report to the Unit the estimated time at which
any ship they represent will be arriving in Grand Cayman;
ensure that any ship arriving between the hours
of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. shall anchor off-shore from George Town Harbour: provided
that any ships arriving in George Town on Sundays and Public Holidays may
be disinsected by the Unit: Provided further that any additional expenses
incurred shall be paid by the Agent;
ensure that all hatches of any ship arriving
in Grand Cayman remain closed until disinsection has been completed;
so instruct the Master of any ship arriving
in Grand Cayman, except a tanker, that such ship makes its first landfall,
weather permitting, at the port of George Town, except where special permission
to the contrary has been granted by the Unit;
ensure that any ship making regular visits
to Grand Cayman which is not in possession of a current certificate of disinsection
approved by the Unit, be sprayed by the Unit with residual sprays at three
calender monthly intervals: Provided that the cost of any material and labour
expended by the Unit in such residual spraying shall be paid by the Agent;
ensure that ship-borne water vessels are fully
mosquito-proofed; and
deliver to customs all containers and things
capable of retaining to be quarantined for disinsection (in default, such
vessels will be treated with insecticide at the time of inspection thereof).
The cargo hold is the first area to be treated.
Usually the hold is opened by the Port Disinsection Officer and sprayed before
anyone enters into it. The Port Disinsection Officer sprays a blast of aerosol
insecticides for 2-3 seconds.
Once the hold has been treated, the Passenger Cabin is treated. The Port Disinsection
Officer waits for all passengers and crew to disembark from the aircraft. He
goes to the back of the aircraft and sprays a 2-3 second burst of aerosol approximately
every 5 feet. The spray is aimed specifically towards the ground and the darker
areas of the cabin where mosquitoes are most liely to hide.
For an aircraft the size of a Boeing 737 approximately 15-20 grams of aerosol
are applied. The insecticide spray contains the active ingredient d-phenothrin,
which belongs to the pyrethroid class of insecticides.
d-Phenothrin makes up 2% of the actual spray.
The aerosol product is registered in the USA as an insecticide for common household
use in the control of mosquitoes, cockroaches, houseflies and other pests by
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Reg. No. 901-82).
The insecticide is used in commercial and industrial pest control and recommended
for use in aircraft disinsection. The aerosol is non-residual and is broken
down quickly, particularly in ultra-violet light.
