The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) conducted nearly 2,800 Port State Control inspections

The highest detention rates were recorded among the following vessel types:

• General cargo / multipurpose vessels - 7.0%
  (approximately 3.2 deficiencies per inspection)
• Container ships - 5.9%
  (approximately 3.4 deficiencies per inspection)
• Oil and chemical tankers - 5.8%
  (approximately 1.7 deficiencies per inspection)

At first glance, general cargo vessels appear to be the weakest segment. However, the analysis shows that despite having fewer deficiencies, tankers demonstrate nearly the same detention rate.

This means that the key factor is not the number, but the criticality of the identified deficiencies.

Structure and Equipment

The largest share of deficiencies falls under the structure and equipment category, including:

• hull condition
• machinery
• onboard equipment

The deficiency rate from 1.42 to 1.45 deficiencies per inspection, indicating that the technical condition of the fleet is not improving.

Critical Detention-Related Deficiencies

❗️Critical detention-related deficiency categories are distributed as follows:

ISM / Safety Management System (~26.7%)

• planned maintenance is not carried out
• the system exists formally
• there is a lack of real control

Watertight integrity

The number of deficiencies increased from: 12.9% to 17.1%

Lifesaving Appliances

From: 11.3% to 14.1%

The main issues are related to:

• lifeboats
• launching arrangements
• crew readiness for emergency situations

Fire Safety

Deficiencies remain consistently high - around 13.4%.

Key Observation

Ship crews note that PSC inspections are becoming less focused on documentation and more focused on the actual safety of the vessel, the condition of equipment, and crew readiness.

In many cases, detention is not the result of a single mistake, but the consequence of accumulated systemic issues.

Discussion

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What deficiencies have you encountered during PSC inspections?

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