Fire safety on board ships is still serious concern. Recent events have demonstrated that a fire on board a ship can be potentially devastating and can seriously affect the safety of those on board. Preliminary results from the Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Fire Safety Systems, carried out between 1 September 2012 and 30 November 2012 in the Paris MoU region show important trends on the current situation onboard merchant vessels.
The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC 2006) was adopted by the International Labour Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO), under article 19 of its Constitution, during a maritime session in February 2006 in Geneva. The aim of the current article is to analyze MLC regulation 5.2.1 regarding inspections in ports. In other words it will be discussed how member states which have ratified the MLC will enforce it through Port State Control (PSC) procedures.
The following tables summarize some findings from the PSC inspections conducted in the main PSC MoU areas (Black Sea MoU, Mediterranean MoU, Indian Ocean MoU, Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU) during last month. Data have been also gathered from various Coast Guard agencies and are presented in each month’s report. Data from other PSC MoUs (Vina del Mar, Abuja MoU, Riyadh MoU) could not be extracted at the time this report has been issued and therefore were not included.
| PSC MoUs | Black Sea | Mediterranean | Indian | Paris | Tokyo |
| Total Inspections | 567 | 458 | 406 | 1464 | 3346 |
| With Deficiencies | 439 | 275 | 224 | 1095 | 2319 |
| Without Deficiencies | 128 | 183 | 182 | 369 | 1027 |
| Detentions | 23 | 33 | 22 | 59 | 134 |
When boarding the ship, the PSCO immediately noticed clear grounds for a more detailed inspection of the ship’s safety standard and general condition. The PSCO found that the maintenance of especially the accommodation and the ship’s deck areas were so poor that the ship should be considered substandard.
Photo credit: Shipspotting
The following tables summarize some findings from the PSC inspections conducted in the main PSC MoU areas (Black Sea MoU, Mediterranean MoU, Indian Ocean MoU, Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU) during last month. Data have been also gathered from various Coast Guard agencies and are presented in each month’s report. Data from other PSC MoUs (Vina del Mar, Abuja MoU, Riyadh MoU) could not be extracted at the time this report has been issued and therefore were not included.
| PSC MoUs | Black Sea | Mediterranean | Indian | Paris | Tokyo |
| Total Inspections | 488 | 393 | 485 | 1421 | 2591 |
| With Deficiencies | 377 | 204 | 299 | 1064 | 1725 |
| Without Deficiencies | 111 | 189 | 186 | 357 | 866 |
| Detentions | 14 | 31 | 24 | 65 | 117 |
The following tables summarize some findings from the PSC inspections conducted in the main PSC MoU areas (Black Sea MoU, Mediterranean MoU, Indian Ocean MoU, Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU) during last month. Data have been also gathered from various Coast Guard agencies and are presented in each month’s report. Data from other PSC MoUs (Vina del Mar, Abuja MoU, Riyadh MoU) could not be extracted at the time this report has been issued and therefore were not included.
| PSC MoUs | Black Sea | Mediterranean | Indian | Paris | Tokyo |
| Total Inspections | 520 | 387 | 594 | 1554 | 3137 |
| With Deficiencies | 399 | 218 | 364 | 1140 | 2133 |
| Without Deficiencies | 121 | 169 | 230 | 414 | 1004 |
| Detentions | 18 | 27 | 29 | 68 | 152 |
On the 19 June 2012, a Port State Control Inspector from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) boarded a Panama registered vessel at Portland. During his inspection the Inspector noted that access was being made into the vessel’s ballast tanks without proper procedures being in place. The Master was issued with a Prohibition Notice requiring entries be made in the correct manner in accordance with the Code of Safe Working Practices.
At the Tokyo MoU’s Port State Control Committee meeting held in Singapore during late January, INTERTANKO put over the growing concern from Members that facilitation payments are becoming more commonplace during ship inspections.
Last August the North America ECA low sulphur requirements came into force and as a result the sulfur content of the fuel oil used onboard ships operating in this area may not exceed 1.00% m/m (10,000 ppm). This new requirement comes to add further restrictions on the fuels’ sulphur levels and gives the PSCO the ability to examine either the vessel’s SMS or its equipment or relevant records on whether or not they are in line with ECA regulations.
The following tables summarize some findings from the PSC inspections conducted in the main PSC MoU areas (Black Sea MoU, Mediterranean MoU, Indian Ocean MoU, Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU) during last month. Data have been also gathered from various Coast Guard agencies and are presented in each month’s report. Data from other PSC MoUs (Vina del Mar, Abuja MoU, Riyadh MoU) could not be extracted at the time this report has been issued and therefore were not included.
| PSC MoUs | Black Sea | Mediterranean | Indian | Paris | Tokyo |
| Total Inspections | 509 | 456 | 436 | 1351 | 2462 |
| With Deficiencies | 376 | 243 | 261 | 937 | 1608 |
| Without Deficiencies | 133 | 213 | 175 | 414 | 854 |
| Detentions | 21 | 27 | 16 | 53 | 80 |
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Officer of the Watch 