Published 10 Jul 2023
What is the Port State Control Inspection?
The Port State Control (PSC) Inspection is the regulatory procedure that verifies if ships in foreign ports comply with international maritime conventions such as the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), and Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).
In this article
- Why are PSC Inspections Important?
- What is a Port State Control Inspection Checklist?
- Top 3 PSC Inspection Detainable Deficiencies
- FAQs About Port State Control Inspection
- PSC Inspection App
- Top Port State Control (PSC) Inspection Checklists
Why are PSC Inspections Important?
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) standardized PSC Inspections for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships. Port State Control Officers can detain substandard ships, regardless of their scheduled departure time. Unrectified deficiencies can result in paying avoidable fees, delaying shipping operations, and losing loyal and potential customers.
What is a Port State Control Inspection Checklist?
A port state control inspection checklist is used by the Captain (or Master) and officers on board to easily identify deficiencies, implement corrective actions, and demonstrate the compliant condition, operation, and manning of the ship.
Top 3 PSC Inspection Detainable Deficiencies
Each of the nine regional Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) websites displays inspection results deficiencies, monthly detention lists, and blacklisted ships of current member States. Over a three-year rolling period, annual reports on Port State Control indicate the following as the top 3 detainable deficiencies:
1. International Safety Management (ISM)
ISM-related deficiencies in the maintenance of the ship and equipment, emergency preparedness, and communication systems inevitably lead to detention. Every year, Port State Control Officers perform Concentrated Inspection Campaigns (CICs) where high levels of deficiencies have been identified. Use a PSC Checklist for Emergency Systems and Procedures to adequately prepare for the 2019 CIC from September to November.
2. Fire Safety
Last July 1, an explosion from a fire that broke out in the Italian-flagged Synzania killed a crew member and injured 15 others. The Captain and officers on board should rectify deficiencies in fire doors/openings in fire-resisting divisions, fire detection and alarm systems, and fire-fighting equipment and appliances to reinforce fire safety and avoid similar incidents.
3. Certificate and Documentation
One of the most prevalent PSC inspection deficiencies is due to non-professionalism and negligence e.g., the Oil Record Book (ORB) is not on board or properly filled out. Keep an eye out for these commonly misplaced, invalid, or unavailable certificates and documents by category:
- Crew Certificates – Seafarer’s Employment Agreement (SEA), endorsement by the flag State, Minimum Safe Manning Document
- Documents – Records of seafarer’s daily hours of work or rest, Garbage Record Book, cargo information
- Ship Certificates – Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR), Safety Management Certificate (SMC), International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC)
FAQs About Port State Control Inspection
Low-risk ships should be inspected at least once every three years, standard-risk ships should be inspected at least once a year, and high-risk ships should be inspected every six months. The port state control inspection’s frequency heavily depends on the type of ship to be assessed.
Clear grounds are evidence found by Port State Control Officers where a function, equipment, or area of a ship isn’t at par with the standards. The existence of clear grounds warrants further inspections to ensure that a ship is safe and secure in each use.
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.
PSC Inspection App
The Captain and officers on board can easily pass Port State Control inspections by successfully harnessing new technology. SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor), the world’s most powerful inspection software, can help your crew rectify detainable deficiencies, prove the seaworthiness of the ship, and prevent costly delays. Empower your officers to:
- Capture photo evidence of deficiencies and assign corrective actions
- Easily access documents anytime, anywhere, and on any mobile device
- Send/receive notifications for scheduled maintenance checks and safety inspections
- Automatically generate and share port state control inspection reports to key personnel. Preview sample report.
- Use for free with small teams. Unlimited reports and storage, integrations, and real-time analytics for premium accounts.
Top Port State Control (PSC) Inspection Checklists
PSC Checklist
This PSC checklist is based on the 2019 Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) which focuses on emergency preparedness. It also includes the PSC target criteria, where answering yes to some or all questions will increase the likelihood of your ship to be inspected (again). Use this checklist to easily verify adequate emergency systems and procedures such as documentation, operation, and crew familiarization and assess your current standing with the Port State Control.
Port State Control Checklist
This Port State Control checklist is used to reduce the risk of Port State Control detentions through a comprehensive inspection of the ship. Use this checklist to efficiently check all required documents and the safety, maintenance, and working condition of engine room, the bridge and deck area, accommodations, and survival craft and launching arrangements. View real-time date with SafetyCulture analytics to easily determine the most detainable deficiencies in your shipping operations and track performance over time.
Fire Door Inspection Checklist
A fire door inspection checklist is used to assess the fire-rating and compliance of all fire doors in a ship. Take photo evidence of non-compliant doors and use SafetyCulture's annotation feature to emphasize on damages and Port State Control breaches. Complete the fire door inspection report by providing a digital signature.
Fire Extinguisher Inspection Checklist
This fire extinguisher inspection checklist can be used every 30 days to evaluate if fire extinguishers meet the standards and safety measures for emergency purposes. Start by checking the fire extinguisher types (ABC, BC, A, D or K), inspection tags, seals, labels, and extinguisher validity. Next, follow the key steps on how to accurately inspect the extinguisher to identify defects. Finally, confirm the tag is signed and dated and capture a photo of the record. Auto-deliver your inspection reports to avoid data loss and save time from creating monthly checklists by using SafetyCulture’s scheduling feature.
Pressure Vessel Inspection Checklist (unfired)
A pressure vessel inspection checklist is used by marine engineers and boiler inspectors to ensure that pressure vessels are safe to hold liquids and gases under pressure. Use this checklist to efficiently conduct an external and internal inspection of pressure vessels and their safety devices and piping systems. Meet IMO regulations by customizing this digital template according to the type of pressure vessel.
Boiler Inspection Checklist
A boiler inspection checklist is a tool used for the safe and accurate maintenance and routine checks of oil or gas-fired boilers on ships. Normally a part of the Port State Control regime, crew members should use this checklist to inspect the internal, external, and operation of a boiler. Select Safe-At Risk-N/A for crucial components and immediately fix problems to avoid boiler explosions, meltdowns, and scalding or steam burns.
