Tag: PSC

The ILO issued second revision of its guidelines for port State control officers carrying out inspections under the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 as amended (MLC, 2006), providing practical advice to PSC officers verifying compliance of foreign ships with the requirements of the MLC, 2006. 

In response to the impact of the pandemic to PSC activities, Tokyo MoU decided to launch remote PSC inspections as a practical alternative in the interim, where and when a normal physical PSC inspection not feasible.

Following the adoption of MARPOL Annex VI amendment on fuel oil sampling at MEPC 75, IMO has in addition released new guidelines for onboard sampling of fuel oil intended to be used or carried for use onboard a ship. 

Tokyo MOU adopted the interim guidance relating to COVID-19 circumstances, in order to protect PSCOs and prevent spread of COVID-19 and for facilitating port State Authorities to apply pragmatic flexibility amid pandemic.

AMSA issued Marine Notice 01/2021, announcing a Focused Inspection Campaign (FIC) for livestock carriers, which will run from 1 March 2021 to 31 August 2021. SQE Marine provided detailed guidance on the matter.

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced that six foreign-flagged ships remained under detention in UK ports during January 2021 after failing PSC inspection. During January, there were zero new detentions of foreign-flagged vessels in a UK port.

During its virtual meeting last week, Tokyo MoU PSC Committee considered and agreed to accept the proposal by the Paris MoU to carry out a CIC on Ballast Water Management (BWM) in 2025. 

ICS has published the latest Flag State Performance Table for 2020-2021 which finds that many of the largest flag states – including the Marshall Islands, Hong Kong (China), Singapore as well as the Bahamas and Cyprus– continue to perform to an exceptionally high standard, with traditional flags and open registers performing equally well.

The Paris MoU has issued its list of ship detentions for December 2020. The details of detentions are entered in the information system of the Paris MoU after the ship has been released.

PSCO’s checklists have a dedicated LSA section with specific items to be checked. Some PSC authorities issue specific information and PSC findings on LSA equipment (eg AMSA). This a practice to declare the importance of such items and systems. After all, LSA is the type of equipment which aims to provide seafarers protection in case of emergency.