Port & Flag State Flashcards
What is the role of the flag state?
Responsible for ensuring that British vessels are inspected in accordance with both UK regulations and the appropriate international memoranda, conventions and protocols the UK has ratified and adopted.
They will issue certificates to validate their compliance
Also responsible for investigating their own ships when they are involved in an accident.
Role of the Port State?
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 rules.
Role of the MCA?
- Executive agency for the Department for Transport
- Develops, promotes and enforces high standards of marine safety
- Surveys all UK flagged ships and foreign flagged ships in UK waters in compliance with National and International regulations
- Minimizing loss of life among seafarers and coastal users
- Responding to maritime emergencies 24 hours a day
- Minimizing the risk of pollution of the marine environment from ships
- Standards of Training and Certification for watch keepers and the issuance of CoCs
What are the 8 Memorandum of Understandings?
- Paris MOU
- Latin-American Agreement
- Tokyo MOU
- Caribbean MOU
- Mediterranean MOU
- Indian Ocean MOU
- Abuja MOU
- Black Sea MOU
- USCG Port State Control Initiative
What is the purpose of MOUs
To harmonise inspections between neighbouring Port States, so the same vessel is not inspected multiple times as it crosses into a nearby Port State.
How are PSC inspections carried out?
All inspections will begin with an initial inspection. This ill include all relevant certificates and documents, confirm that deficiencies outstanding from the previous inspection have been rectified, and look at the overall condition of the ship, including the engine room, accommodation and conditions of hygiene onboard.
If there is evidence for believing after an initial inspection that the conditions of the ship, equipment or crew does not meet the relevant standards of a convention, a more detailed inspection will be completed.
Discuss risk profiles within PSC inspections
All ships calling at a port or anchorage in the Paris MOU will be assigned a ship risk profile - high, standard or low. The ship risk profile determines the priority for inspection. The purpose is to ensure that the frequency and detail of inspections carried out reflects the risk posed by the ship, which includes reducing the burden of inspection on low risk ships.
Factors include:
Ship type, age (keel laying date), flag of registry, the performance of recognised organisations and company performance; and the number of deficiencies and detentions recorded within the previous 36 months.
Flag states are also divided into white, grey and black which represents the full spectrum of of flag quality, from low risk to high or very high risk
Frequency of PSC inspections
High risk = 6 months
Medium risk = 12 months
Low risk = 36 months
PSC detentions
Where an inspection reveals deficiencies which in the professional judgment of the inspector are clearly hazardous to safety, health or the environment, the ship will be detained or the operation revealing such deficiencies will be stopped.
The MCA will immediately inform the flag state administration in writing and include a copy of the inspection report. Any applicable RO’s will also be informed.
Ships of any flag state may be refused entry into ports and anchorages in the UK and other member states following repeated detentions.
What is meant by “improvement notices” and “prohibition notices”
An Improvement Notice requires specified improvements to bring health and safety arrangements up to regulation standard within a specified period.
A prohibition notice prohibits an unsafe operation or the use of an unsafe item of equipment. It gives notice that the inspector beliebes the stated activities are likely to involve a risk of serious injury or damage to the marine environment
What documents does the Master need to submit when entering a foreign port?
- General declaration (FAL Form 1)
- Cargo Declaration (FAL Form 2)
- Ships Stores Declaration (FAL Form 3)
- Crew Effects Declaration (FAL Form 4)
- Crew List (FAL Form 5)
- Passenger List (FAL Form 6)
- Dangerous Goods (FAL Form 7)
