On Monday March 12, 2025, a container ship collided with a British tanker off the coast of the UK. A tragedy that could have been avoided if the Russian captain had complied with Port State Control alerts.
What is Port State Control inspection, and why is it important?
Port State Control (PSC) is a procedure for checking that ships calling at international ports, comply with maritime safety standards. More specifically, PSC ensures that foreign vessels comply with international conventions on protection of the marine environment, safety of life at sea, and seafarers’ living and working conditions.
85% of the world’s trade is transported by sea. In that case, the safety of ports, maritime infrastructures and personnel is essential to guarantee economic stability and world peace. Maritime routes are used to transport goods, raw materials and energy resources. In 2021, the drift of the container ship Ever Given caused almost $9.6 billion in losses. A disaster that could have been avoided thanks to a PSC inspection.
The security of maritime infrastructures is essential to territorial security. Indeed, it is via maritime routes that most weapons destined for terrorism or drug trafficking are transported. More than 2,000 AK-47 assault rifles were intercepted between Iran and Yemen by the United States on January 6, 2023.
Types of Port State Control Inspections
To avoid this, there are four types of PSC inspection:
Initial inspection:
This is the first inspection when a ship arrives in port. The inspection is fairly general, checking the overall condition of the vessel. Nevertheless, the initial inspection concentrates on central points of safety, such as checking the ship’s and crew’s certificates, or the proper functioning of the engine room. This inspection is responsible for immediately identifying the slightest anomaly that could have an impact on the ship’s safety.
Extended inspection
This type of inspection examines the vessel’s compliance with international standards with greater rigor than the initial inspection. This inspection is often triggered when a vessel is already the subject of serious concern due to its history or propensity to fail to meet international standards. For this reason, the expanded inspection examines all possible safety criteria to ensure international maritime law cannot be bypassed.
Detailed inspection:
As the name implies, detailed inspection allows the investigation to become more specialized, when the authorities in charge of control have noticed an anomaly. In this case, the PSC concentrates on specific points involving the safety of the vessel, its crew and the areas traversed. The detailed inspection is also tasked with determining whether the ship’s insecurities can be corrected. In the event of an unfavorable opinion, the vessel’s voyage may be suspended.
Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC):
This is a scheme often coordinated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to carry out inspections on a specific, targeted subject, such as the ship’s fire safety equipment, for example. CICfocus on critical elements that need to be brought up to international standards quickly, to ensure the ship’s enhanced safety and durability.
PSC inspections are important to ensure that international maritime law is applied and respected. These international texts are the product of the IMO, an agency attached to the United Nations. They ensure the safety and security of maritime space. MARPOL is the main international convention on the prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships. The safety aspect is governed by several regulatory texts. For example, the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code organizes the prevention of acts of terrorism in the marine environment. There is also the STWC Convention or the COPS, which is the basis of the legal framework for marine employees. PSCs are therefore important at all levels to protect ships and their personnel from external threats such as terrorism, or from risks arising from ship operations.
Role of Paris Memorandum of Understanding (Paris MOU)
PSC inspections were created in the 1960s by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). In a period of international standardization, PSC inspections were created to reinforce compliance with international maritime standards. The advent of the 1974 SOLAS Convention underpinned this significant change in maritime safety.
This was followed by the development of regional agreements to protect maritime spaces. One example is the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of 1982. This is a regional agreement between 14 European states establishing coordinated control of foreign ships calling at European ports. This agreement is regularly reviewed to maintain its relevance. Today, 27 European states have joined this agreement to cooperate and ensure the safety of Europe’s maritime space.
Gradually, other regions of the world have signed their own MoUs to reinforce their inspections and comply with international maritime law. These include the Tokyo MoU, the Abuja MoU and the Indian Ocean MoU etc… Each organization plays a central role in safety in its own geographical area. In Europe, the Paris MoU is essential, because 75% of the European Union’s foreign trade is carried by sea. It is a critical link for certain isolated islands, which is why European maritime security must remain high, especially with the return of high-intensity warfare to Europe.
This return has contributed to the development of a phase of hybrid warfare in which civilian domains are used to weaken the adversary. In this context, Russia uses spy ships along European coasts and destroys underwater telecommunications cables. In addition, Russia is using a phantom fleet to circumvent international law, consisting of ships that are extremely polluting and endanger their crews.
THE CHECKLIST CAN BE ILLUSTRATED BY AN INFOGRAPHY
H2 Port State Control Inspection Checklist: how to prepare for PSC inspection
In the event of a PSC, you must check the following points:
1. Certificates and documents
- Check the validity of all certificates (ISM, IOPP, etc.).
- Ensure the accuracy of logbook entries.
2. Safety equipment
- Check the condition of life jackets, life rafts and emergency beacons.
- Ensure that fire extinguishers and fire detection systems are in good working order.
3. Hull and structural integrity
- Look for signs of damage, corrosion or wear on the hull and superstructure.
- Check doors for leaks.
4. Machinery and propulsion systems
- Ensure proper operation of propulsion machinery and systems.
- Check generators.
5. Pollution prevention equipment
- Check that oily water separators and wastewater treatment systems comply with MARPOL regulations.
- Maintain accurate records of fuel and pollutant transfers.
6. Crew skills and working conditions
- Ensure that all crew members are properly trained and certified for their roles, and that their working conditions comply with international MLC standards.
- Carry out regular emergency drills.
7. Safety provisions
- Ensure that security arrangements comply with the ISPS Code and that the crew is prepared to respond to security threats.
- Check that the ship’s security plan is up to date and compliant with requirements.
- Ensure that the crew has received appropriate training in security procedures.
8. General maintenance and external appearance
- Keep the vessel clean and well-maintained to reduce risk and demonstrate operational care.
- Check the exterior appearance and exterior lighting of the vessel.
9. Regional specificities
- Know the local regulations for inspection regimes specific to the region you are visiting.
- Understand specific requirements for vessels in certain areas, such as polar waters or areas at high risk of piracy.
Impact of PSC inspections on insurance and customs
The assessment of insurance certificates is a critical part of PSC inspections. Inspection results have a direct impact on ship insurance costs. In the case of positive results, the ship attracts the confidence of insurance companies offering relatively low costs. On the other hand, if the results are alarming, insurance costs soar. PSC inspections are a real way of proving insurance compliance.
In the same way, PSCs are a mark of confidence for customs services. Customs can access the PSC files of ships they wish to inspect, to prevent trafficking and smuggling. These procedures are in addition to prior PSC inspections, and lead to long delivery delays. These delays not only have economic consequences, but also political and social ones, as they increase internal tensions. Tensions which can then undermine the vigilance of security services and facilitate the import or export of illicit goods (drugs, weapons, organs, etc.).
