Throughout their voyages, ships undergo port state inspections, abbreviated as Port State Control or PSC. These inspections check that the condition of the ship and its equipment complies with the requirements of international conventions. Inspections also cover the ship’s manning, operation, maritime safety and security, and pollution prevention. Deficiencies detected during Port State Control (PSC) are specified in certain codes. According to these codes, ships are decided to leave the port or be arrested.
During an inspection, the PSC inspector may identify one or more deficiencies and include them in the PSC inspection report. Each deficiency has a unique code. The inspection report indicates when the deficiency should be corrected. Along with the deficiencies, the convention reference applied is also included. In addition to these, “Action Taken” is defined. In the table below we have defined the most frequently used action taken codes.
| Code | Definition | Description |
| Code 10 | Rectified | Used for deficiency detected and corrected by PSC inspector |
| Code 15 | To be rectified at next port | Used for a deficiency that cannot be rectified before departure but the PSCO requires rectification at the next port. This requires the deficiency to be rectified in the next port. It is also possible with the realization of repair work or delivery of equipment during the ship’s stay in that port. |
| Code 16 | To be rectified within 14 days | It is used for a deficiency which, in the PSCO’s professional judgment, is not serious enough to require immediate correction or verification by the PSCO prior to departure. This action sets a maximum limit of 14 days, but it is the responsibility of the master to remedy the deficiency as soon as necessary and reasonable within this period. |
| Code 17 | To be rectified before departure | It must be corrected before the ship sails, but is not serious enough to warrant detention. If the ship is not detained, it is left to the master to rectify the deficiency before departure. Verification by the PSCO is not required (at this port of call). A deficiency that must be rectified before departure is recorded as rectified if it is verified as rectified by a PSCO before departure. |
| Code 19 | To be rectified before departure. Safety management audit by the Administration is required before departure of the ship |
A safety management system (SMS) audit is required by the Administration prior to the departure of the ship. A deficiency marked ISM is evidence of a serious failure or lack of implementation of the ISM Code. |
| Code 21 | Corrective action taken on the ISM system by the Company is required within 3 months | Corrective action taken by the company on the ISM system must be done within 3 months. A deficiency marked ISM is objective evidence of a failure or lack of effectiveness in the implementation of the ISM Code. The vessel may be re-examined after 3 months from the last date of the report. |
| Code 26 | Competent Security Authority informed | It is used only for the lack of a Safety code series for which the competent safety authority of the PSCO state has been informed that clear justification exists in accordance with the PSCC Safety Instruction Guidelines. |
| Code 30 | Detainable deficiency | This code is used to indicate the deficiency that is the basis for the detention of a vessel. In principle, a code 30 deficiency should be followed by code 10 (deficiency remedied) to indicate that the deficiency that was the grounds for detention has been remedied. |
| Code 40 | Next port informed | The PSCO of the next port will come on board to check for deficiencies to be rectified. The PSCO of the next port may also carry out additional inspections. |
| Code 45 | Rectify detainable deficiency at next port 50 flag state/consul informed | It is used when a second port is involved in the continuation or follow-up of detention. |
| Code 55 | Flag state consulted | It is used whenever the flag State is consulted about relevant shortcomings. Some matters are left to the initiative of the flags themselves. |
| Code 70 | Recognized organization informed | The classification society has been informed or contacted about a deficiency in the classification of the ship. |
| Code 85 | Investigation of the contravention of discharge provision (MARPOL) | Investigation of breach of the discharge provision in relation to MARPOL. |
The above items are the most commonly used codes. In addition to these codes, there are two checkboxes. One of these checkboxes is Grounds for detention. It is used for a deficiency that is serious enough to be corrected before departure and examined by the PSCO (Port State Control Officer) before the ship continues its voyage.
Used for each detectable deficiency identified in accordance with the Directive on Criteria for the Assessment of Responsibility of Recognized Organizations (R/O), it must relate to the Recognized Organization that issued or approved the legal certificates relating to the deficiency that can be detained.
The second box is Accidental Damage. Where the reason for detention is as a result of accidental damage to a vessel, no detention order will be issued, provided certain conditions are met. In addition, deficiencies marked as Accidental Damage are not taken into account in the calculation of company performance and Vessel Risk Profile.
Source:
- Paris Mou
- Procedures for Port State Control ( IMO publications 2000 edition)
