Conduct of inspections
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee-Marine Environment Protection Committee Circulars - MSC-MEPC.4 Circulars - MSC-MEPC.4/Circular.2 – Port State Control-Related Matters1 – Code of Good Practice for Port State Control Officers – (1 November 2007) - Annex – Code of Good Practice for Port State Control Officers Conducting Inspections within the Framework of the Regional Memoranda of Understanding and Agreement on Port State Control - Annex – Code of Good Practice for Port State Control Officers - Conduct of inspections

Conduct of inspections

  9 comply with all health and safety requirements of the ship and their administration e.g., wearing of personal protective clothing, and not take any action or cause any action to be taken which could compromise the safety of the PSCO or the ship's crew;

  10 comply with all security requirements of the ship and wait to be escorted around the ship by a responsible person;

  11 present their identity cards to the Master or the representative of the owner at the start of the inspection;

  12 explain the reason for the inspection – however where the inspection is triggered by a report or complaint they must not reveal the identity of the person making the complaint;

  13 apply the procedures of PSC and the convention requirements in a consistent and professional way and interpret them pragmatically when necessary;

  14 not try to mislead the crew, for example by asking them to do things that are contrary to the relevant conventions;

  15 request the crew to demonstrate the functioning of equipment and operational activities, such as drills and not make tests themselves;

  16 seek advice when they are unsure of a requirement or of their findings rather than making an uninformed decision, for example by consulting colleagues, publications, the flag Administration, the recognized organization;

  17 where it is safe to do so accommodate the operational needs of the port and the ship;

  18 explain clearly to the master the findings of the inspection and the corrective action required and ensure that the report of inspection is clearly understood;

  19 issue to the master a legible and comprehensible report of inspection before leaving the ship;


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