Port state control targets tanker vessels
Tankers will be targeted over a three month period in the Paris MoU states
The Paris Memorandum on Port State Control has announced a concentrated three-month inspection campaign (CIC) to verify correct damage stability of tankers. The campaign begins on 1 September and ends on 30 November 2010.
The need for the campaign arises, according to the Paris MoU secretariat, because inspections have showed tankers are frequently sailing when not complying with damage stability requirements, had no means of assessing damage stability, or were sailing in a loading condition not covered by the approved stability book.
In practice the CIC will mean that during every port state control inspection of an oil tanker, chemical tanker or gas carrier ship within the Paris MoU region, the stability information book and other applicable documentation shall be verified in more detail for compliance with relevant regulations.
Port state control officers (PSCOs) shall use a list of nine selected items to verify critical areas for tanker stability. The questionnaire will be published on the website of Paris MoU.
A special training programme has been organised to prepare PSCOs for the campaign. When deficiencies are found, actions by the port State may vary from recording a deficiency to detention of the ship until deficiencies have been rectified.
In case of detention, publication in the monthly list of detentions available on the Paris MoU web site will take place. The results of the campaign will be analysed and findings will be presented to the governing bodies of the MoU for submission to the IMO.
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