Question

With reference to Port State Control:

(a) State the various MOU's and the purpose of having a port state control regime;

(b) Give at least 3 examples of deficiency which may lead to detention of your vessel;

(c) If your vessel gets detained by the PSC owing to a deficiency, what would be your action for redressal.

(d) What are the various deficiency action code used in PSC.

(e) Briefly explain the difference between PSC and FSI.

Answer 1

Port State Control

Part (a)

Various MOUs and the Purpose of Having a Port State Control Regime

Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs):

The various regional Port State Control MOUs include:

Tokyo MOU
Paris MOU
USCG (United States Coast Guard)
Caribbean MOU
Indian Ocean MOU
Mediterranean Sea MOU

Purpose of the PSC Regime:

In relation to a ship, the country in which it is registered is the "Flag State," while any other country visited by the ship is a "Port State." It is primarily the duty of the Flag State to ensure that a ship entitled to fly its flag is safely constructed, properly equipped, and subsequently adequately maintained and manned as per regulations based on International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions. For this purpose, the Flag State carries out surveys and inspections on the vessels under its registry.

However, many ships do not visit their home ports for considerable periods. Therefore, it is imperative that ships are inspected at various ports to ensure continuous compliance with rule requirements regarding safety, maintenance, manning, and pollution prevention. Thus, a Port State Control (PSC) regime was established for this vital purpose.

Part (b)

Examples of Deficiencies Leading to Vessel Detention

At least three examples of deficiencies that may lead to the detention of a vessel by Port State Control are:

A ship does not hold valid convention certificates.
Equipment or arrangements required by regulation are not onboard.
Equipment is non-functioning.
The condition of the ship or its equipment has deteriorated considerably due to poor maintenance since the last survey.
The ship is insufficiently manned.

Part (c)

Course of Action for Redressal if Vessel is Detained

In case the vessel is detained by PSC owing to a deficiency, the following actions for redressal should be taken:

The final report stating the cause of detention is handed over to the Master.
The superintendent in the headquarters is immediately informed, and any assistance required from outside must be clearly and concisely intimated to avoid delay of the ship.
If an equipment is non-functional due to the non-availability of a spare part, urgent steps must be taken to procure the same.
If the detention is due to poor maintenance of the ship, this should be brought to the notice of superiors in unambiguous terms.
If the ship is not manned as per regulation, the same must be rectified.
The Flag State and Classification Society should be kept informed of all developments.

✓ Verified Model Answer (Text Solution)