Introduction To Port State Control Inspections

Introduction To Port State Control Inspections Ships that sail in international waters are required to ensure compliance with certain codes and conventions laid down by the maritime authorities. Ship owners, flag states, and the shipping company must put combined efforts to maintain their ships at the required standard levels to ensure compliance.

So when a ship enters international ports, Port State Control (PSC) Inspections are conducted on the vessels to ensure that their condition is well above the necessary criteria set by the authorities. PSC is a crucial component of a ship inspection service because it is the only means of eradicating substandard ships. Let’s learn more about what PSC inspections are in detail and why they are crucial.

What Exactly Is a PSC Inspection?

Port State Control inspection is described as a regulatory procedure conducted to inspect the foreign ships that sail in national ports to verify that the vessel and its equipment are in complete compliance with the international maritime conventions.

The Importance of PSC Inspections The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has standardized PSC Inspections for the safety and security of shipping as well as the mitigation of marine and air pollution caused by ships. It enables Port State Control officials to detain substandard ships regardless of when they are scheduled to depart. Shipowners are required to pay unavoidable costs for deficiencies which can result in delayed shipping operations.

Three PSC Detainable Deficiencies All nine Memorandum of Understanding (MOI) websites release monthly detention lists, inspection result shortcomings, and ships currently blacklisted by member governments. The following are the top three deficiencies: 1. ISM Deficiency Detention may unavoidably result from failures to maintain the ship and its equipment, to be ready for emergencies, and to have communication systems that meet ISM standards. Port

State Control Officers conduct Concentrated Inspection Campaigns (CIC) every year where significant faults are found at high levels.

2. Fire Safety To avoid explosions from fire and enforce fire safety, the Captain and officers on board are required to rectify deficiencies in fire doors, fire detection & alarm systems, and fire-fighting equipment and appliances.

3. Documentation and a Certificate One of the most frequent PSC inspection failures is failing to keep the certificates and documentation on board. Watch out for the following frequently lost, incorrect, or misplaced documents: ●

Documents which include the cargo information, the garbage record book, and the daily work and rest hours of seamen. ● Seafarer’s Employment Agreement (SEA), Minimum Safe Manning Document, and endorsement by the flag state are examples of crew certificates. ● Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR), International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC), and Safety Management Certificate are examples of ship certificates (SMC).

Ship inspectors in Singapore and around the world are required to look out for all these flaws when conducting a Port State Inspection.