(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) Port State Control (PSC) is the inspection of foreign ships in national ports to verify that the condition of the ship and its equipment comply with the requirements of international regulations and that the ship is manned and operated in compliance with these instruments and ensure maritime safety and security and prevent pollution.
PSC inspections are intended to be a backup to flag State implementation, a “second line of defence” against substandard shipping, and experience has shown that they can be extremely effective. The IMO adopted resolution A.682(17) on Regional co-operation in the control of ships and discharges promoting the conclusion of regional agreements.
Many IMO conventions contain provisions for Governments to inspect foreign ships that visit their ports to ensure that they meet IMO standards contained in instruments to which the port State is a Party, taking into account the concept of no-more favourable treatment. If they do not, they can be delayed or detained until repairs are carried out and be subject to targeting.
For ships travelling to different countries in the same region, a regional coordinated inspection that focuses on substandard ships and avoids multiple inspections can be more efficient and cost effective to member States, as well as providing a level playing field to ports of the region. The harmonization of PSC inspections aims at ensuring that as many substandard ships as possible are inspected and at preventing ships from being subjected to multiple inspections. The primary responsibility for ensuring ships' standards rests with the flag States.
Procedures for Port State Control, 2025 (A.1206(34))
The Procedures for Port State Control, 2025 were adopted and revoke A.1185(33). While not mandatory, these procedures are widely implemented by regional PSC regimes (e.g., Paris MoU, Tokyo MoU) and are considered best practice globally. The procedures are updated every two years to ensure they remain current.
The new procedures include:
- The Guidelines for Port State Control Officers (PSCO) on Security Aspects as a new appendix 20 to the PSC procedures. The guidelines focus solely on the PSCO's role and exclude elements specific to Duly Authorised Officers (DAO). They incorporate relevant parts of the Interim Guidance on Control and Compliance Measures to Enhance Maritime Security (MSC.159(78)), clarifying procedures when security deficiencies are found.
- An updated appendix 21 - List of instruments relevant to port State control procedures. This includes relevant new requirements such as 2024 Guidelines for the development of a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) (MEPC.395(82)) and Voluntary early implementation of the amendments to paragraphs 4.2.2 and 8.4.1 to 8.4.3 of the IGF code (MSC.551(108)).
The Procedures for Port State Control, 2025 take effect from 1 January 2026.
For more information, you can download below the IMO Assembly Resolution, containing the Revised Port State Control (PSC) Procedures (171 pages):
Source: IMO
For more guidance and resources on Port State Control, click HERE
