It is a standardized practice every year for three months, for the PSC regimes to select a specific area to focus on during their inspection onboard vessels.
On this year’s topic, the PSC’s joint Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) is focusing on STCW Convention and Code’s requirements (i.e., manning, crew & medical certificates as well as rest hours and watchkeeping schedules) ensuring that:
• The number of seafarers serving on board and their certificates conform with the relevant provisions of the STCW Convention and Code and the applicable safe manning requirements as determined by the Flag State Administration;
• All seafarers serving on board, who are required to be certificated under STCW Convention, hold an appropriate certificate or a valid dispensation, or provide documentary proof that an application for an endorsement has been submitted to the Flag State Administration;
• The seafarers on board hold a valid medical certificate as required by STCW Convention;
• The watch-keeping schedules and hours of rest indicate compliance with the requirements of the STCW Convention and Code;
In addition to the regular routine PSC inspection items, Port State Control Officers (PSCOs) will use a separate list of predefined questions during the CIC.
As STCW certification and other operational requirements are likely to cause an ISM-related deficiency as they affect the Safety Management System (SMS), it is strongly recommended shipowners, operators, and crew pay special attention to the related questions as can be found in the press release report and below recommendations:
• Check if all crew members’ certificates of competence are at hand and valid
• Check if the safe manning certificate is available and applicable to the ship’s size
• Check if the Muster List is up-to-date and crew members are familiar with their assigned duties
• Records of Hours of rest are available, reflecting actual hours worked, maintained in a standardized format as provided by the Administration and a copy is kept by each seafarer.
• Watchkeeping schedule is available, maintained in a standardized format as provided by the Administration, posted at the bridge, engine room, and mess rooms and is duly updated, signed by Master
• Evaluate the effectiveness of familiarization for the Master and officers in charge
• Review the IMO Res. A.1155(32) “Procedures for Port State Control, 2021”, and specifically Appendix 7 of Res. A.1155(32) “Guidelines for control of operational requirements” & Appendix 11 “Guidelines for Port State Control Officers on certification of seafarers, manning and hours of rest”. A copy is to be provided onboard vessels.
A list of possible deficiencies that may warrant detention is listed below:
1. Failure of seafarers to hold a certificate, to have an appropriate certificate, to have a valid dispensation, or to provide documentary proof that an application for an endorsement has been submitted to the Administration in accordance with regulation I/10, paragraph 5;
2. Failure to comply with the applicable safe manning requirement of the Administration;
3. Failure of navigational or engineering watch arrangements to conform to the requirements specified for the ship by the Administration;
4. Absence on a watch of a person qualified to operate equipment essential to safe navigation, safety radiocommunications, or the prevention of marine pollution; and
5. Inability to provide, for the first watch at the commencement of a voyage and for subsequent relieving watches, persons who are sufficiently rested and otherwise fit for duty.
The questionnaire is annexed to the Press release – Paris MoU – Concentrated Inspection Campaign on STCW
The IMO Res. A.1155(32) Procedures for Port State Control, 2021
