Port State Control

The reason why it was created is to investigate compliance with

the requirements of international conventions, such as SOLAS,
MARPOL, STCW, and the MLC. It's crucial to have Port State
Control

Port state control 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 conventions and
that the ship is manned and operated in compliance with these
rules.

What is PARIS MOU for port state control inspection of foreign

ships?

Basic principle is that the prime responsibility for compliance

with the requirements laid down in the international maritime
conventions lies with the shipowner/operator. Responsibility for
ensuring such compliance remains with the flag State.

Mission is to eliminate the operation of sub-standard ships

through a harmonized system of port State control.

The organization consists of 27 participating maritime

Administrations and covers the waters of the European coastal
States and the North Atlantic basin from North America to
Europe.

Annually more than 17.000 inspections take place on board

foreign ships in the Paris MoU ports, ensuring that these ships
meet international safety, security and environmental standards,
and that crew members have adequate living and working
conditions.
 The current member States of the Paris MoU are:

Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia,

Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, the Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and
the United Kingdom

1- PSC INSPECTION

According to the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Port

State Control, the four main types of port state control inspections are
—initial inspection, more detailed inspection, expanded inspection,
and concentrated inspection campaign. More details on them below:

 Initial inspection – aims to check the certificates and documents of

the ship, as well as inspect common areas and the general condition
of the ship.
 More detailed inspection – this type of inspection is conducted when
there are clear grounds discovered in any component of the ship (i.e
equipment, crew,) that hinders it from performing as it should.
 Expanded inspection – this type of inspection is normally performed
in high-risk ships. It focuses on the overall condition of the ship while
also taking into account the human element in each specific
operation.
 Concentrated inspection campaign – designed to review specific
areas or ship functions where high deficiency or error was found.

On boarding and introduction to the master or the responsible

ship's officer, the PSCO should examine the vessel's relevant
certificates and documents,
If, however, the PSCO from general impressions or observations
on board has ‘clear grounds’ for believing that the ship, its
equipment more detailed inspection,
or its crew do not substantially meet the requirements, the PSCO
should proceed to a

CLEAR GROUNDS

"Clear grounds" to conduct a more detailed inspection include:

.1 the absence of principal equipment or arrangements required
by the conventions;

.2 evidence from a review of the ship's certificates that a

certificate or certificates are clearly invalid;
. 3 evidence that the ship's logs, manuals or other required
documentation are not on board, are not maintained, or are
falsely maintained;
.4 evidence from the PSCO's general impressions and
observations that serious hull or
structural deterioration or deficiencies exist that may place at
risk the structural,
watertight or weathertight integrity of the ship;

.5 evidence from the PSCO's general impressions or observations

that serious deficiencies exist in the safety, pollution prevention,
or navigational equipment;
.6 information or evidence that the master or crew is not familiar
with essential shipboard
operations relating to the safety of ships or the prevention of
pollution, or that such operations have not been carried out;
. 7 indications that key crew members may not be able to
communicate with each other or with other persons on board;
. 8 absence of an up-to-date muster list, fire control plan, and for
passenger ships, a damage control plan;
. 9 the emission of false distress alerts not followed by proper
cancellation procedures;
.10 receipt of a report or complaint containing information that a
ship appears to be substandard.
What is detainable deficiency ?
The PSCO will exercise professional judgment in determining
whether to detain the ship until the deficiencies are rectified or
to allow it to sail

If a serious deficiency is noted by the inspector, the ship is

detained in that port till such time that the deficiency is rectified
…..after re-inspection , ship is allowed to sail..

For example: A large bulk carrier had serious fault in ‘one’

steering system . The ship was having steering system A and
System B.
It was found that system A was functioning normally but System
B was faulty. The ship was detained till system B was made
operational.
Following codes ( 15,16,17 ) as per Paris MOU----

To be rectified at next port (code 15)

Used for a deficiency which cannot be rectified before departure
but which the PSCO requires the rectification at the next port
This action requires that the deficiency is rectified at the next
port. It is possible that the repair work or delivery of equipment
may take place during the ship’s stay in that port.
To be rectified within 14 days (code 16)
Used for a deficiency which, in the PSCO’s professional
judgement, is not serious enough to require urgent rectification
or verification by a PSCO before departure.
This action taken sets a maximum limit of 14 days but it is left to
the master’s responsibility to rectify the deficiency as soon as
necessary and reasonable within that period.
To be rectified before departure (code 17)
Used for a deficiency which:
should be rectified before the ship sails but is not serious enough
to warrant detention, or/and can reasonably be rectified before
the ship sails.
If the ship is not detained it is left to the master’s responsibility
to rectify the deficiency before departure. No verification by a
PSCO is required (at that port call).
If a deficiency which is to be rectified before departure is verified
by a PSCO as rectified before the ship departs it should be
recorded as rectified.

What is flag state inspection?

If ship is registered in India (for example - Mumbai) , The ship is

expected to follow all rules n regulations of Indian Government .

The Flag State is the country where the vessel is registered and
with whose laws govern the vessel and those onboard her when
operating in that jurisdiction and on the High Seas. So if the
inspection is carried out by the officers of that flag, it is termed as
Flag state inspection.

The inspection of Indian ships by DG Shipping officers, is called

Flag state inspection ‘ The inspection is carried out in similar
manner to that of Port State control inspection.

Ground for detention

deficiency No.1: Fire protection self-closing door leading to
engine room from main deck found out-of-order
Example 1
The ship was detained due to the following detainable
deficiencies: 07105 Fire doors/openings in fire-resisting divisions
- FIRE PROTECTION SELFFOCLOSING DOOR LEADING TO ENGINE
ROOM FROM MAIN DECK UND OUT-OFORDER; 15199 Other
(ISM) - ABOVE SHOWN DEFICIENCIES ARE OBJECTIVE EVIDENCE
OF A FAILURE, OR LACK OF EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ISM.

Example 2:-
The ship was detained due to the following detainable
deficiency: 14402 Sewage treatment plant - SEWAGE
TREATMENT PLANT DEFECTIVE.
PSC Officer requested to open manhole of sewage plant
settlement compartment and discovered on the top the foam
after recirculation and identified this foam as “solid”

Example 3:-
Launching arrangements for rescue boats - RESCUE BOAT DAVIT
STORAGE POWER DEFECTIVE;
Example 4
deficiency (Emergency generator does not automatically connect
emergency switchboard) was due to failure of a fuse of the
emergency switchboard, which had been already damaged as the
consequence of the explosion of the batteries, a non-detainable
deficiency (action code 17) recorded during the first visit of PSCO
on the previous day; therefore, this is considered an equipment
failure occurred accidentally;
Example 5
Cargo Ship Safety Construction (including exempt.) - SC, SE AND
SR RENEWAL SURVEY EXCEEDED 5 YEARS 3 MONTHS,
Example 6
Emergency generator defective and not being tested monthly as
per manufacturers requirements.

MOU relating to Port State Control (Region Wise)

1-Paris MoU 2-Tokyo MoU 3-United States Coast Guard - Port

State Control
4-Viña del Mar Agreement 5-Mediterranean MoU 6- Indian
Ocean MoU
7-Riyadh MoU 8-Black Sea MoU 9-Caribbean MoU 10-Abuja
MoU