State Control

Port-State Control Guide Published

The North of England P&I club and Intercargo have published a second edition of their unique and popular guide on how shipowners should prepare for port-state control inspections. Port State Control - A Guide for Cargo Ships has been updated throughout and includes a comprehensive new chapter on the commercial implications of delays, detentions and banning orders. According to Tony Baker of the North of England's risk-management department, port-state control inspections are increasing in intensity and scope every year. 'In 2002 over 60,000 inspections were carried out by the top five port-state control regions, resulting in the detention of more than 3,500 ships. The introduction of the ISPS Code and new IMO con conventions on anti-fouling and ballast water, due for adoption in 2004, will further increase the risk to voyages unless shipowners are properly prepared for inspections,' he says Baker points out that the commercial implications for a shipowner of failing a port-state control inspection can be severe. 'Apart from loss of reputation and future earnings, a failed inspection can compromise an owner's ability to fulfil contractual obligations under charterparties, contracts for the carriage of goods and sale-and-purchase agreements,' he says. The 48-page illustrated A4 guide has been written by Intercargo's former safety, environmental and technical manager Peter Kidman in association with

Paris MOU To Enforce ISM Compliance

The Paris MOU on Port State Control will start strict enforcement of the ISM Code on 1 July during a 3-month Concentrated Inspection Campaign. Last month the Port State Control Committee of the Paris MOU agreed to verify compliance with the ISM on all ships due for an inspection in one of the ports within the region. No extensions will be granted to the ship types which become compliant on July 1, 2002. Other ship types which already have been certified in accordance with the ISM Code will

EC: Safety and Port State Control Require Proper Implementation of Rules

The European Commission sent reasoned opinions – the last step before lodging a case to the Court of Justice – to Italy and Malta for failure to respect EU legislation on port State control of shipping. Latvia was also sent a reasoned opinion for failure to transpose into national law EU legislation on maritime safety and the prevention of pollution by ships. “While the European Commission has just adopted a third set of measures to reinforce maritime safety

IMO Guidance on Security Measures

The IMO issued a Circular providing guidance relating to the implementation of SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code. It was pointed out that a written Declaration of Security is generally unnecessary in routine situations and that port state control officials at subsequent port calls should not expect such documents to be in the ship’s records. Port facility security plans should specifically include provisions relating to access to visiting ships by owners’ representatives

USCG Port State Control Targeting and Boarding Policy

The U.S. Coast Guard released its Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) relating to port state control targeting and boarding policy for vessel security and safety. The NVIC provides functional descriptions and responsibilities relating to targeting of foreign vessels for security boardings and for maritime security and safety compliance examinations. It also provides procedures for security boardings; for maritime security and safety examinations; and for reporting, notifying

Six-Month Grace Period For STCW 95 Compliance

IMO has issued advice to port state control officers that, for a period of six months after the February 1, 2002 implementation deadline for the revised Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW 95), ships whose officers do not hold STCW 95 certificates or flag state endorsements need not be detained. The move comes in recognition of the fact that many seafarers have not yet been able to obtain the necessary certification required by the

RINA Tops Paris MOU Performance List

International classification society RINA has been recognized by the Paris MOU as the best performing Recognised Organisation in 2009.  At its 43rd meeting the Paris MOU Committee approved the 2009 Port State Control inspection results for ships and adopted new performance lists for Flag States and Recognised Organizations. These lists take effect from 1 July 2010 and show RINA as having the best performance in the high quality section of the list of classification societies.

Release of ClassNK’s Annual Report on Port State Control

ClassNK (Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda) has announced the release of ClassNK’s Annual Report on Port State Control for the year 2012. This year’s report is gathering all the data on declarations made to the Society by Port States throughout the world, containing also, among others, the newest statistics published on Tokyo MOU, and furthermore, it includes an annual report related to the ISM Code with detailed information on its application by each country

Maritime Security Enforcement Forum

USCG Marine Safety Office (MSO) Puget Sound will conduct a maritime transportation security enforcement forum in Seattle on October 14. Topics on the agenda include facility security, declarations of security, port state control, ballast water management, domestic vessel security, and vessel-facility interfaces. (HK Law)

New Requirements for Carrying Navigation Equipment

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Notice entitled New Requirements for Carrying Navigation Equipment for All Ships Subject to SOLAS. The Notice discusses various new carriage requirements relating to navigation equipment that came into effect on 1 July 2002. U.S.-flag vessels are not to engage in international voyages until they are in compliance. Port state control personnel are encouraged to take appropriate action with regard to foreign flag vessels found not to be in compliance.