A guide for cargo ships by Peter Kidman, Master Mariner Intercargo (Second Edition)
Governments have long had an interest in the condition of foreign-flag ships calling at their ports, but the origins of port state control as we know it today can probably be traced back to 1978. That was the year when a number of states in northern Europe agreed to exchange information on the foreign ships calling at their ports.
The agreement was formalised in 1982 when the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (Paris MOU) was signed by 14 European states. Since then the Paris MOU has grown and a further five MOU's or agreements have been signed by other groups of states around the world.
There were no internationally adopted rules for port state control until 1995 when the IMO adopted a resolution on the procedures to be followed. However these procedures, amended in 1999, are not mandatory and only offer guidance to port states and their inspectors.
In 2000, Intercargo published a guide on port state control; although aimed at cargo ships it is also useful for other ship types. North of England published a revised version of this guide for its members as part of the Club's series of loss prevention guides. An updated and revised second edition of the guide was published in 2003. Supported by flow charts, checklists and other aids to memory, the guide describes port state practice as it stands today. Advice is also given on how to manage inspections. Since the guide was originally published in 2001, two events have occurred that are expected to have a significant impact on Port State Control practice.
Firstly, new rules were incorporated in the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (the Paris MOU) on 22 July 2003. These are aimed at targeting high-risk ships calling at European Union ports and will introduce a much stricter control regime.
Similar changes are likely to be introduced by other regional port State organisations in due course.
Secondly, the International Maritime Organisation has adopted new SOLAS regulations on maritime security and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, which enter into force on 1 July 2004.
The regulations will extend the port State regime out to port approaches and will be subject to the same port State provisions that currently apply to SOLAS safety regulations, increasing the inspection requirement on all ships.
The guide has two main aims. The first is to improve the inspection performance of ships through a better understanding and awareness of port state control practice. The second is to look for any lack of consistency, varying performance and poor practice by Port State Control officers in conducting inspections. To seek feedback and attempt to quantify the situation, an inspection reporting form that can be returned to Intercargo forms part of the guide.
To obtain a copy of this publication please download the Loss Prevention Order Form from this link.
