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Port State Control (PSC) is the inspection of foreign ships in national ports to verify that the condition of the ship and its equipment complies with the requirements of international regulations, and that the ship is manned and operated in compliance with these rules. Many of the IMO’s most important technical conventions contain provisions for ships to be inspected when they visit foreign ports to ensure that they meet IMO requirements. The responsibility for ships’ standards rests with owners, Class Societies and the Flag State – but Port State Control (PSC) provides a “safety net” to identify substandard ships which experience has shown to be extremely effective.
The first PSC agreement to identify and exclude substandard ships was drafted after the Amoco Cadiz incident in March 1978 and resulted in the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which came into effect in Europe in 1982. There are now nine regional agreements on Port State Control in effect, which cover Europe and the north Atlantic (Paris MoU); Asia and the Pacific (Tokyo MoU); Latin America (Acuerdo de Viña del Mar); the Caribbean (Caribbean MoU); West and Central Africa (Abuja MoU); the Black Sea region (Black Sea MoU); the Mediterranean (Mediterranean MoU); the Indian Ocean (Indian Ocean MoU); and the Persian Gulf (Riyadh MoU). The United States Coast Guard maintain the tenth PSC regime.
The shipping industry has made considerable progress and continues to do so, but incidents show that there are still ships that slip through the net. It is these ships that PSC targets through sharing of data and improved training of inspectors to strengthen their abilities and better direct their efforts.
INTERTANKO’s Membership has long recognised the value of well-operated and maintained tankers and has developed criteria to ensure its own quality standards. Alongside the Membership criteria, the Association and its Vetting Committee have supported owners through the production of a Guide to the Vetting Process which includes advice on both the PSC and commercial vetting processes for tankers.
Contents
Foreword
Introduction, Scope and Background to PSC
Geographical Overview of the Port State Control Regions
Overview of MoUs’ activity and procedures
Port State Control Inspections
Types of Inspections
Initial Inspection
Clear Grounds
More Detailed Inspections
Expanded inspection
Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC)
The PSC Inspections Process
The Port State Control Process
Professional Qualifications and Conduct of PSCOs
Deficiencies and Detentions
Deficiencies
Detentions
Detention appeals
General Guide for Masters
Preparation for a PSC inspection
The PSC Inspection Process
Concluding an Inspection
A Guide for Masters – USCG Visits
Certificate of Compliance Inspections
QUALSHIP 21 and E-Zero designation
Guidance for Companies
Facilitation payments
OCIMF PSC Repository
Port State Control Inspection Feedback system
Selection of Ships for Port State Control
Targeting Factors
Overriding factors
Port State Control and Regional MoUs
Detention Appeal and Review Procedures
Appendices
INTERTANKO Vessel & PSC Inspection Feedback Systems
EQUASIS
Guidelines for Port State Control related to the ISM Code
PSC Codes for Deficiencies / Detention
Port State Control and Regional MoUs
Report of Inspection in accordance with IMO Port State
Control procedures (Form A)*
Report of Inspection in accordance with IMO Port State
Control procedures (Form B)
Port State Control (PSC) is the inspection of foreign ships in national ports to verify that the condition of the ship and its equipment comply with the requirements of international regulations and that the ship is manned and operated in compliance with these rules.
These inspections were originally intended to be a back up to Flag State implementation, however, experience has shown that they can be extremely effective. Port State Control provides a “safety net” to catch substandard ships.
This chapter provides a general insight into the Port State Control inspection process; when, how and why it was institutionalised by countries and the general principles driving this process.
INTERTANKO is the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners. INTERTANKO has been the voice of independent tanker owners since 1970, ensuring that the liquid energy that keeps the world turning is shipped safely, responsibly and competitively.
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