IMO advances harmonized PSC inspections and officer training

July 29 ------ The International Maritime Organization has advanced measures aimed at improving the consistency and effectiveness of Port State Control inspections worldwide, with particular attention to machinery and maintenance inspections, the qualifications of Port State Control Officers and the training of personnel entering the PSC system.

The proposals were considered during the 12th session of IMO’s Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III 12), held from 20 to 24 July 2026. They form part of the ongoing work towards the 2027 revision of the Procedures for Port State Control, 2025, adopted through resolution A.1206(34). "Although the IMO Procedures are not mandatory, they are widely applied by regional PSC regimes, including the Paris and Tokyo MoUs, and are regarded as the global benchmark for conducting inspections, identifying deficiencies and taking appropriate control action."

The Procedures are typically revised every two years to reflect amendments to IMO instruments and evolving inspection practices.

Guidance for machinery and maintenance inspections

A central element of the proposed revision is a new appendix providing harmonized guidance for PSCOs inspecting ship machinery, electrical equipment and maintenance arrangements. Machinery-space inspections and the assessment of maintenance systems can be technically challenging, while the existing PSC Procedures provide limited detailed guidance in this area. The proposed appendix is therefore intended to promote greater consistency between individual inspectors and regional PSC regimes.

However, further work is needed before the guidance can be incorporated into the PSC Procedures. This includes verifying its technical content and clearly defining the boundaries of PSC inspections. The discussions emphasized that PSC inspections should remain risk-based and proportionate. They should not develop into full statutory surveys or duplicate the responsibilities of flag State administrations and Recognized Organizations.

PSCO qualifications under review

III 12 also considered proposed amendments to section 1.9 of the PSC Procedures, which addresses the qualifications and training of PSCOs.

The current framework indicates that a PSCO should be an experienced officer qualified as a flag State surveyor. During the session, it was discussed whether this requirement may be unnecessarily restrictive, particularly for authorities seeking to recruit officers through different professional and training pathways.

The discussions did not question the need for competent and appropriately trained PSCOs. Instead, they focused on determining suitable minimum entry requirements and developing a competency framework that can accommodate different professional backgrounds while maintaining a consistent global standard. Further consideration will therefore be required before revised qualification provisions can be finalized.

Draft entrant training manual finalized

The Sub-Committee finalized the draft entrant training manual for PSC personnel, intended to support a more consistent baseline level of training for officers entering the PSC system. The manual is particularly relevant to administrations and regional PSC regimes that use different recruitment and professional development systems.

Rather than duplicating the inspection instructions already included in the PSC Procedures, the manual is expected to focus on the knowledge, competencies and training pathway required before an officer begins conducting PSC inspections. The initiative is intended to support greater consistency in how new PSCOs are prepared for their roles while recognizing that national administrations may use different approaches to recruitment and training.

List of relevant instruments updated

Work also progressed on draft appendix 21, which lists the IMO instruments relevant to the PSC Procedures. The updated list is intended to reflect recently adopted instruments and amendments, including MEPC.400(83) on carbon intensity reduction factors and the Code on Alerts and Indicators, 2025, adopted through resolution A.1204(34).

Maintaining an updated list of applicable instruments is important to ensure that PSC inspections reflect the latest regulatory requirements and that officers have a clear reference point when assessing compliance.

Source: safety4sea.com