1. SCOPE
This Newsletter is issued to help surveyors identify serious deficiencies that could lead to PSC detention and ensure that the ship is safe to sail.
A ship may be detained when deficiencies are so serious that the PSCO must verify their rectification before the ship can sail.
Surveyors should pay particular attention to:
- Certificates & Crew: Valid statutory certificates, minimum safe manning and crew competence.
- Navigation: Charts, passage plan, bridge equipment and watchkeeping.
- Cargo Safety: Gas detection, alarms, ventilation and cargo monitoring.
- Engine Room: Emergency generator, emergency fire pump, quick-closing valves, OWS and oil leaks.
- Propulsion & Steering: Main engine, steering gear and emergency steering.
- Fire Safety: Fire pumps, fire lines, dampers, fixed firefighting systems and drills.
- Lifesaving Equipment: Lifeboats, liferafts, launching arrangements and drills.
- Pollution Prevention: OWS, ORB, sewage treatment plant and ballast water systems.
- Stability & Watertight Integrity: Overloading, damaged air pipes, defective doors, seals and alarms.
- GMDSS & Distress Communications: VHF, DSC, EPIRB and required radio records.
- Crew Welfare: Hours of Rest, food, sanitary facilities and health hazards.
- VDR: Operational status, data preservation and accident-reporting procedures.
Pay special attention to emergency equipment, critical alarms, oil leaks, corrosion, watertight integrity and crew competence.
Several deficiencies together may indicate a wider failure of maintenance or the Safety Management System (SMS).
Additional references:
PhRS Technical Circulars
- TC 322/26 | LISCR – Top 20 Detainable Deficiencies – December 2025
- TC 387/26 | PSC 3 monthly Concentrated Inspection Campaigns – July to September 2026
- TC 381/26 | Panama Maritime Authority - Procedure for Port State Control (PSC), 2025 amendments
- TC 369/26 | Paris MoU Port State Control Committee 2026 guidelines to PSCOs on inspection topics
- TC 365/26 | LISCR – Most Common Maritime Labor Convention, as amended (MLC 2006) Deficiencies during PSC Inspections
- TC 304/25 | LISCR - Most Common MARPOL Annex VI Deficiencies during PSC Inspections
PhRS Internal Memos
For any questions or further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at regulatory@phrs.co.com