The general objective of the EU SHIPSAN ACT Joint Action (2013-2016) was to strengthen an integrated strategy and sustainable mechanisms at the European Union level for safeguarding the health of travellers and crew of passenger and cargo ships and preventing the cross-border spread of diseases, improving citizens' health security.
Actions focused on prevention, identification, assessment and link with existing mechanisms for response coordination to serious cross border threats to health caused by chemical biological and radiological agents.

HEALTHY SAILING is a research and innovation action that aims to improve the quality of passenger shipping services, facilitate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and make passenger shipping safer, more resilient, competitive and efficient. Formally titled “Prevention, mitigation, management of infectious diseases on cruise ships and passenger ferries” (Nr. 101069764), the 3 year project is funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON) and was awarded an over 3 million euros budget. HEALTHY SAILING was prepared under the HE Work Programme 2021-2022 to respond to the specific call for controlling infection on large passenger ships (HORIZON-CL5-2021-D6-01-12). Under this call topic, the project supports substantially reducing the spread of communicable disease on board passenger ships through improved health and hygiene operations, while also addressing strategic goals for the overall safety and resilience of transport, climate neutrality and European leadership in key industries.