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Port State Control inspection checklist
Detentions are rarely a surprise — they are the items nobody rehearsed. Work through this before arrival, in the order a PSC officer moves through the ship. Progress saves in this browser and prints as a PDF for the vessel's file.
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1. Certificates and documentation
The first thing checked, and still one of the largest deficiency categories.
2. Fire safety
3. Life-saving appliances
4. ISM implementation on deck
5. Machinery and propulsion
6. Pollution prevention
7. Crew, MLC and living conditions
8. Immediately before arrival
Stop rebuilding this checklist every year.
Full Ahead keeps every item above as a live record against your vessels — due dates, responsible officer, attached evidence and a tamper-evident history an auditor can read. It works offline at sea and syncs when the link returns.
Common questions
What are the most common PSC deficiencies?
Across the Paris and Tokyo MoUs the recurring categories are fire safety (dampers, doors, detection), life-saving appliances, ISM implementation, certificates and documentation, propulsion and auxiliary machinery, and MARPOL Annex I items such as the oily water separator and the Oil Record Book.
How long does a Port State Control inspection take?
An initial inspection is typically two to four hours. If clear grounds are found it becomes a more detailed inspection and can run a full day or longer; a detention extends this until deficiencies are rectified and re-verified.
What triggers a more detailed PSC inspection?
Clear grounds — for example missing or invalid certificates, evidence that the crew cannot communicate or perform key duties, poor general condition, an outstanding deficiency from a previous port, or a report from a pilot, port authority or crew member.
How can we reduce the chance of a detention?
Rehearse. Run the checklist below as a self-inspection before arrival, close overdue critical maintenance, confirm every certificate and survey endorsement is in date, and make sure key crew can demonstrate — not just describe — drills and equipment operation.
Know about the next PSC campaign before it starts
Concentrated Inspection Campaigns, MoU focus areas and rule changes — short and plain.