(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) The United States Coast Guard’s Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has released its 2020 annual report over US port state controls. The aim of the report is to “provide the global maritime industry key statistics and compliance trends in relation to compliance with U.S. and international regulations, such as the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS).”
Vessel Arrivals, Exams, and Detentions
In 2020, a total of 10,507 individual vessels, from 79 different flag administrations, made 72,122 port calls to the U.S. 7,383 PSC exams were conducted. Due to the global pandemic, these exam numbers are down from the 2019 total of 8,622. The total number
of ships detained in 2020 for environmental protection, safety, and security related deficiencies decreased from 102 to 57.
Flag Administration Performance
In 2020, the Coast Guard combined safety and security compliance performance for all program measures. Flag Administration performance for 2020 increased with the overall annual detention rate decreasing from 1.10% to 0.77%. Additionally, the three-year rolling detention ratio decreased from 1.07% to 1.02%. Bolivia and Cyprus were added to the Targeted Flag List based on the 2020 data. No flag administrations were removed from the list this year.
Detention and Association Appeals
In 2020, the Coast Guard received a total of twelve appeals. Three appeals challenged the overall merits of the detention. For those merit appeals, all three were denied. In addition to receiving appeals contesting the overall merits of a detention, we also receive appeals requesting the removal of a party’s association to a detention. For those parties appealing
their association with a detention, nine were received. Of those nine, seven were granted and the other two were denied. For more information on the Coast Guard’s appeal process, please see our process guidance on page seven of this report.
Detention Deficiency Breakdown
QUALSHIP 21 and E-Zero Programs
The USCG considered the impact of COVID-19 on international shipping when determining QUALSHIP 21 (QS21) eligibility. However, no changes were made to the eligibility criteria based on the reduced number of vessels trading with the United States. The QS21 program ended calendar year 2020 with an impressive 3,283 vessels enrolled. In 2019, we welcomed two additional flag administrations into the program with four losing their QS21
eligibility. For 2020, five flag administrations lost their eligibility while three additional flags became eligible. We would like to welcome the flag administrations of Greece, Saudi Arabia, and Spain for becoming QS21 eligible this year. The full list of QS21 flag administrations is located in Chapter 2 of this report.
The E-Zero program focuses on environmental stewardship and worldwide compliance with international environmental conventions. By the end of 2020, 137 ships received the E-Zero designation.
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