PORT STATE CONTROL IN FULL
_What is PSC?
Port state control inspection is an inspection program under which all countries work together to ensure that all vessels entering their waters are in compliance with strict international safety and Anti-pollution standards.
Sharing....
Allcountries involved in inspecting ships will share their findings with each other
Detaining...
The ships that are found to be in violation of laid down standards are detained in port, until their deficiencies have been rectified.
Objective of PSC....
The objective of PSC is to detect and discourage owners from operating substandard ships that endanger not only the ships crew and the port, but also the environment.
PSC inspection helps to minimize the threat to life, property and the environment by disallowing substandard shipping practices.
The key elements of PSC are:
1.Ensuring compliance with international rules regarding safety marine pollution and a threat to the working environment- compliance with SOLAS,MARPOL etc..
2.Detaining sub standard vessels, when their condition so sub standard, until all deficiencies are rectified
3.Implementing a mutually agreed upon figure of annually inspecting the minimum numbers (normally 25% of all visiting vessels)ie:- how many ship's to be inspected.
4.Applying a targeting system when determining the selection of vessel forchecking so that well run vessels are not unnecessarily harassed while Black Listed vessel will not be allowed to operate, Ex:- Maintaining a database
5.Harmonizing and strengthening to the greatest extent port state controls authority to carry out better surveillance
6.Providing technical assistance and training where the need is identified
Conventions and IMO instruments that based for PSC.....
SOLAS
MARPOL
STCW
LOAD LINE
TONNAGE
COLREG
ILO(merchant shipping minimum standard)
WHY PSC.....
Theory - In theory all vessels must be governed by the flag state, which is allowing them to sail under their flag
Practical - In practice all ships do not regularly call at their own (flag state‘s) ports
This can restrict the ability of the flag stage to effectively check/enforce the convention standard on its vessels. This loop hole has been exploited by some unscrupulous owner to improve their own profit margins by cheaply running their ships in a substandard condition endangering not only the other ship and the environment, but also the lives of the very seafarer's who are running them. This is where PSC comes into picture.
PSC is for which vessels.....
ship's whose flag state is a party to a convention, can a different state carry out PSC inspection? - YES
ship's whose flag state is NOT a party to a convention, can a different state carry out PSC inspection? - YES
BASICALLY ALL SHIP'S CAN BE INSPECTED
Port state control can be applied not only to those countries, who are party to the convention but also to the ships that fly the flag of a state that has not rectified a convention. Thus no ships are exempted from inspection because the principle of no more favourable treatment applies
What about local regulations and laws.......
Any state may also inact its own domestic laws and impose additional national rules and regulations on foreign ships entering its water USA for example has enacted the oil pollution act 1990 (OPA 90) which makes it mandatory for tankers to have double hull or equivalent protection against spillage for entry into any us port.
The relevant regulations Articles and annexes which form the provision forPSC are..................
SOLAS 74
-Regulation I/19- GENERAL PROVISIONS/ CONTROL
-Regulation IX/6: Management of safe operation of ship/ verification and control
-Regulation XI-1/4:Special measure to enhance maritime safety / PSC onoperational requirement
-Chapter XI-2:Special measures to enhance maritime securities (ISPS code)
MARPOL 73/78
-Article 5: Certificate and special rules and inspection of ships
-Article 6: Detection of violation and enforcement of the conventions
-Regulation I/11: Regulation for prevention of pollution by oil/ PSC on operational requirement.
-Regulation II/16-9: Regulation for prevention of pollution by NLS/Measures of control/ PSC on operational requirement
-Regulation III/8: Prevention of pollution by packaged harmful substances/ PSC on operational requirement.
-Regulation V/8: Regulation for prevention of pollution by garbage/ PSC on operational requirement.
-Regulation VI/10: Regulation for prevention of air pollution/ PSC on operational requirement.
Load Lines 1966
-Article 21: International load line convention with the port state control.
* Limitation on the draft, to which a ship on its international voyages isto be loaded
* Ensure adequate stability
* Provisions to determine freeboard of tankers
STCW 95
-Article X: Control regulation (rights of PSCO to ensure all seafarers have appropriate certificate)
-Regulation 1/4 control procedure
Tonnage 1969
-Article 12:Verification of Tonnage certificate
-Although the tonnage convention is not a safety convention the revision A787(19) has laid down the guidelines for port state control However, the controlprovision of Article 12 Tonnage 69 does not include the provision of detention of ships
A Port State Control Officer will conduct a more detailed inspection of the ship if.......
-Evidence that the ship, its equipments, crew does not correspond substantially with the requirement of the relevant conventions
-The master, officers and crew are not familiar with essential shipboard procedure relating to safety of ship or the prevention of pollution
More detailed inspection of the ship,under "clear grounds".....
If the PSC officer from general impressions formed or from his observations has
"clear grounds" to believe that the ship or its equipment or its crew do not substantially meet the requirement, PSC should do more detailed inspections
Clear grounds to conduct detailed inspection include:
-The absence of principle equipment or arrangement required by conventions.
-Evidence, that a ship‘s certificate or certificates are clearing invalid.
-Evidence that the documents required by the convention & others are not onboard or incomplete or not maintained or falsely maintained.
-Evidence from PSCO‘s general impression & observation that serious hull or structural deterioration/deficiencies exist that may place a risk to the water tight integrity of the ship
-Evidence, from the PSCO‘s general impression or observations that serious deficiencies exist in safety,pollution prevention or navigational equipment.
-Information or evidence that master/crew is not familiar with essential shipboard operations relating to the safety of the ship or prevention of pollution
More detailed inspection of the ship, under ISM related deficiencies include:
-The personnel not familiar with company safety and environmental protection policy
-Safety management documents (Eg: manuals) not available on board
-Relevant documentation of the SMS (in working language) not understand by the ships personnel
-Senior ship officers do not know company responsibility and authority for the safe operation of the ship.
-Senior ship officers do not know "DPA"
-No documented proof for Master‘s responsibility and authority
-Vessel not manned with qualified and certified seafarers as per the manning certificate
-Procedure not in place to establish and maintain contact with DPA in emergencies
-Crew member does not demonstrate fire and abandon drills
-Last PSC inspection deficiency not dealt with according to SMS manual and ISM requirement
What are the detainable deficiencies & corrective actions..............
As per conventions:-
As per SOLAS convention
1.)Insufficient cleanliness of E/R, excess amount of oily water mixture in bilges, insulation of piping including exhaust pipes in E/R contaminated by oil, & improper operation of Bilge pumping arrangements
2.)Absence, insufficient capacity or serious deteriorating of personal LSA‘s survival craft & launching arrangements
3.)Failure at proper operation of emergency generator, battery,lightings, navigational equipments etc.
As per MARPOL
1.)Failure of OWS filtering equipment
2.)Unauthorised discharge bypass fitted(magic pipe)
3.)ORB/Garbage recordbook not available or entries are not correct
As per STCW
1.)Number, composition or cert. of crew not corresponding with safe manning document
As per Load Line
2.)Defective closing devices for hatch covers/ water tightness of hatch covers/ watertight doors
3.)Overloading
4.)Absence or impossible to read draft marks
What could be the Causes of such deficiencies.......
- Master, officer and crew are not aware about company SMS
- Officers and crew do not know their responsibilities regarding ISM
- Shipboard machineries maintenance system not strictly implemented
- Senior officers do not have adequate knowledge about various IMO conventions
- Officers and crew are not trained properly for emergency situations.
And Corrective actions are.....
- Appropriate training to be provided to crew members regarding emergency situations
- Proper house keeping & cleanliness
- Planned maintenance schedule must be strictly followed
- Manning must be managed as per safe manning Cert.
- All LSA/FFA items maintained properly
- In no case unauthorized discharge from ship is made which is considered as criminal offense
- When OWS operated for pumping out oily water, proper entries must be made in ORB
_
Port state control inspection is an inspection program under which all countries work together to ensure that all vessels entering their waters are in compliance with strict international safety and Anti-pollution standards.
Sharing....
Allcountries involved in inspecting ships will share their findings with each other
Detaining...
The ships that are found to be in violation of laid down standards are detained in port, until their deficiencies have been rectified.
Objective of PSC....
The objective of PSC is to detect and discourage owners from operating substandard ships that endanger not only the ships crew and the port, but also the environment.
PSC inspection helps to minimize the threat to life, property and the environment by disallowing substandard shipping practices.
The key elements of PSC are:
1.Ensuring compliance with international rules regarding safety marine pollution and a threat to the working environment- compliance with SOLAS,MARPOL etc..
2.Detaining sub standard vessels, when their condition so sub standard, until all deficiencies are rectified
3.Implementing a mutually agreed upon figure of annually inspecting the minimum numbers (normally 25% of all visiting vessels)ie:- how many ship's to be inspected.
4.Applying a targeting system when determining the selection of vessel forchecking so that well run vessels are not unnecessarily harassed while Black Listed vessel will not be allowed to operate, Ex:- Maintaining a database
5.Harmonizing and strengthening to the greatest extent port state controls authority to carry out better surveillance
6.Providing technical assistance and training where the need is identified
Conventions and IMO instruments that based for PSC.....
SOLAS
MARPOL
STCW
LOAD LINE
TONNAGE
COLREG
ILO(merchant shipping minimum standard)
WHY PSC.....
Theory - In theory all vessels must be governed by the flag state, which is allowing them to sail under their flag
Practical - In practice all ships do not regularly call at their own (flag state‘s) ports
This can restrict the ability of the flag stage to effectively check/enforce the convention standard on its vessels. This loop hole has been exploited by some unscrupulous owner to improve their own profit margins by cheaply running their ships in a substandard condition endangering not only the other ship and the environment, but also the lives of the very seafarer's who are running them. This is where PSC comes into picture.
PSC is for which vessels.....
ship's whose flag state is a party to a convention, can a different state carry out PSC inspection? - YES
ship's whose flag state is NOT a party to a convention, can a different state carry out PSC inspection? - YES
BASICALLY ALL SHIP'S CAN BE INSPECTED
Port state control can be applied not only to those countries, who are party to the convention but also to the ships that fly the flag of a state that has not rectified a convention. Thus no ships are exempted from inspection because the principle of no more favourable treatment applies
What about local regulations and laws.......
Any state may also inact its own domestic laws and impose additional national rules and regulations on foreign ships entering its water USA for example has enacted the oil pollution act 1990 (OPA 90) which makes it mandatory for tankers to have double hull or equivalent protection against spillage for entry into any us port.
The relevant regulations Articles and annexes which form the provision forPSC are..................
SOLAS 74
-Regulation I/19- GENERAL PROVISIONS/ CONTROL
-Regulation IX/6: Management of safe operation of ship/ verification and control
-Regulation XI-1/4:Special measure to enhance maritime safety / PSC onoperational requirement
-Chapter XI-2:Special measures to enhance maritime securities (ISPS code)
MARPOL 73/78
-Article 5: Certificate and special rules and inspection of ships
-Article 6: Detection of violation and enforcement of the conventions
-Regulation I/11: Regulation for prevention of pollution by oil/ PSC on operational requirement.
-Regulation II/16-9: Regulation for prevention of pollution by NLS/Measures of control/ PSC on operational requirement
-Regulation III/8: Prevention of pollution by packaged harmful substances/ PSC on operational requirement.
-Regulation V/8: Regulation for prevention of pollution by garbage/ PSC on operational requirement.
-Regulation VI/10: Regulation for prevention of air pollution/ PSC on operational requirement.
Load Lines 1966
-Article 21: International load line convention with the port state control.
* Limitation on the draft, to which a ship on its international voyages isto be loaded
* Ensure adequate stability
* Provisions to determine freeboard of tankers
STCW 95
-Article X: Control regulation (rights of PSCO to ensure all seafarers have appropriate certificate)
-Regulation 1/4 control procedure
Tonnage 1969
-Article 12:Verification of Tonnage certificate
-Although the tonnage convention is not a safety convention the revision A787(19) has laid down the guidelines for port state control However, the controlprovision of Article 12 Tonnage 69 does not include the provision of detention of ships
A Port State Control Officer will conduct a more detailed inspection of the ship if.......
-Evidence that the ship, its equipments, crew does not correspond substantially with the requirement of the relevant conventions
-The master, officers and crew are not familiar with essential shipboard procedure relating to safety of ship or the prevention of pollution
More detailed inspection of the ship,under "clear grounds".....
If the PSC officer from general impressions formed or from his observations has
"clear grounds" to believe that the ship or its equipment or its crew do not substantially meet the requirement, PSC should do more detailed inspections
Clear grounds to conduct detailed inspection include:
-The absence of principle equipment or arrangement required by conventions.
-Evidence, that a ship‘s certificate or certificates are clearing invalid.
-Evidence that the documents required by the convention & others are not onboard or incomplete or not maintained or falsely maintained.
-Evidence from PSCO‘s general impression & observation that serious hull or structural deterioration/deficiencies exist that may place a risk to the water tight integrity of the ship
-Evidence, from the PSCO‘s general impression or observations that serious deficiencies exist in safety,pollution prevention or navigational equipment.
-Information or evidence that master/crew is not familiar with essential shipboard operations relating to the safety of the ship or prevention of pollution
More detailed inspection of the ship, under ISM related deficiencies include:
-The personnel not familiar with company safety and environmental protection policy
-Safety management documents (Eg: manuals) not available on board
-Relevant documentation of the SMS (in working language) not understand by the ships personnel
-Senior ship officers do not know company responsibility and authority for the safe operation of the ship.
-Senior ship officers do not know "DPA"
-No documented proof for Master‘s responsibility and authority
-Vessel not manned with qualified and certified seafarers as per the manning certificate
-Procedure not in place to establish and maintain contact with DPA in emergencies
-Crew member does not demonstrate fire and abandon drills
-Last PSC inspection deficiency not dealt with according to SMS manual and ISM requirement
What are the detainable deficiencies & corrective actions..............
As per conventions:-
As per SOLAS convention
1.)Insufficient cleanliness of E/R, excess amount of oily water mixture in bilges, insulation of piping including exhaust pipes in E/R contaminated by oil, & improper operation of Bilge pumping arrangements
2.)Absence, insufficient capacity or serious deteriorating of personal LSA‘s survival craft & launching arrangements
3.)Failure at proper operation of emergency generator, battery,lightings, navigational equipments etc.
As per MARPOL
1.)Failure of OWS filtering equipment
2.)Unauthorised discharge bypass fitted(magic pipe)
3.)ORB/Garbage recordbook not available or entries are not correct
As per STCW
1.)Number, composition or cert. of crew not corresponding with safe manning document
As per Load Line
2.)Defective closing devices for hatch covers/ water tightness of hatch covers/ watertight doors
3.)Overloading
4.)Absence or impossible to read draft marks
What could be the Causes of such deficiencies.......
- Master, officer and crew are not aware about company SMS
- Officers and crew do not know their responsibilities regarding ISM
- Shipboard machineries maintenance system not strictly implemented
- Senior officers do not have adequate knowledge about various IMO conventions
- Officers and crew are not trained properly for emergency situations.
And Corrective actions are.....
- Appropriate training to be provided to crew members regarding emergency situations
- Proper house keeping & cleanliness
- Planned maintenance schedule must be strictly followed
- Manning must be managed as per safe manning Cert.
- All LSA/FFA items maintained properly
- In no case unauthorized discharge from ship is made which is considered as criminal offense
- When OWS operated for pumping out oily water, proper entries must be made in ORB
_