200063 The Role of the Port State Inspector

The Role of the Port State Inspector
Report No. 200063

As a senior surveyor working with maritime safety inspections and safety assessment, I have repeatedly warned the industry about the very difficult matter of accident investigation, looking for the "basic course" or "lesson learnt" for corrective action. Indeed I am very happy to include the Official Report on the "Accidental Release of a Lifeboat" published in the August 2000 edition of SEAWAYS to my collection of "interesting cases". However, I would like to make the following comments: The IMO Resolution A.787 (19), Procedures for Port State Control. 3.5.1 states that:

"When, during a Port State Control inspection, the PSCO has clear grounds etc.?. However, in exercising control recommended in these guidelines, the PSCO should not include any operational test or impose any physical demands which, in the judgement of the Master, could jeopardise the safety of the ship, crew, passengers, control officers or cargo."

Consequently, my conclusions will be somewhat different from the Investigation Unit which came up with the following main contributory factors:

1. 3rd Engineer's lack of knowledge

2. 2nd Mate and Electrical Officers lack of knowledge

3. The training regime on board

4. Labelling and instructions

Here are my conclusions:

The PSCO should communicate with the ship's Master, or his appointed responsible person(s) during an inspection on board. I cannot see any reason for "clear ground" for physical checking. He should not require any physical testing and he should absolutely not order or address any of the crew in exercising any action. If he has any reason to suspect any poor lifeboat condition or handling, he should confine his action to requesting the Master to conduct an abandon ship drill so that he can witness that all the items which are covered in A.787(19) 3.5.12 are correct. By the way, it is not clear why the 3rd engineer and the Electrical Engineer Officers were required to have lifeboat proficiency qualifications. The PSCO should confine his duties to the IMO Resolution.

The above comments concern everybody exercising inspections and controls on board, where there is any intention to control safety. It is self-evident that the basic intention of any control factor is to avoid accidents and not to create them.