PORT STATE CONTROL

What is PSC and their job ?
What is port state control & purpose of port state control , differentiate b/w port state &
flag state + under what regulation port state is authorized to inspect a vessel.

Under Port State Control (PSC), inspection of ships in port would be taken by Port State Control Officer (PSCO). Detention of the ship is the last course of action that a PSCO would take upon finding deficiencies aboard the vessel.
Courses of action a PSCO may impose on a ship with deficiencies (in order of ascending gravity):
1. Deficiencies can be rectified within 14 days for minor infractions
2. Under specific conditions, deficiencies can be rectified when the ship arrives at the next port
3. Deficiencies must be rectified before the ship can depart the port;
4. Detention of the ship
Criteria for detaining a ship by PSCO
The main criteria for detention is that the ship is deemed unsafe to proceed to sea and that the deficiencies on a ship are considered serious by the inspector. These deficiencies must be rectified before the ship may sail again. In the annual report of Paris MOU, it stated that the major deficiencies are:
1. Certification of crew
2. Safety
3. Maritime Security
4. Marine Pollution and Environment
5. Working and Living Condition
6. Operational
7. Management
These deficiencies are the most common concern of a PSCO. When these deficiencies are clearly hazardous to safety, health, or the environment, the PSCO would require the hazard to be rectified before the ship can sail or detain the vessel or even issue a formal prohibition of the ship to operate. As these deficiencies are self-induced by the ship operator or the ship owner, detention under PSC for the reasons listed above is not able to reach a frustration to discharge the contract on the vessel.

By what regulation PSC board a vessel and carry out inspection ?

SOLAS I/19 CONTROL