The port state control co-operation Paris MOU, that currently gathers 27 member states and the EU Commission, has at a meeting in Reykjavik decided on changes in the port state inspection scheme that is aimed at targeting high risk vessels while relieving the inspection burden for quality tonnage. The “New Inspection Regime”, NIR, will be launched in 2011 and also incorporate the new ILO Maritime Labour Convention if this has entered into force.
The basis of the NIR is that vessels will be judged after a set of risk criteria including type, age, class society, flag, company safety history, earlier inspection results, detentions etc. A vessel will then be designated to one of three risk categories. Ships in the high risk category will be subject to inspections every six months or more frequently. Standard risk vessels will face inspections every 10-12 months and low risk vessels every 24-36 months.
Vessels flying the flag of a nation on the black or grey list with two detentions within 36 months may be banned from ports in the Paris MOU region for three months or more. If this happens again, the ban will be for at least twelve months, and a third time may result in a permanent ban.
Paris MOU has also announced a concentrated campaign on life boat launching arrangements during inspections from September 1 and three months on. This is done in a joint effort with the port state organisation Tokyo MOU.
The basis of the NIR is that vessels will be judged after a set of risk criteria including type, age, class society, flag, company safety history, earlier inspection results, detentions etc. A vessel will then be designated to one of three risk categories. Ships in the high risk category will be subject to inspections every six months or more frequently. Standard risk vessels will face inspections every 10-12 months and low risk vessels every 24-36 months.
Vessels flying the flag of a nation on the black or grey list with two detentions within 36 months may be banned from ports in the Paris MOU region for three months or more. If this happens again, the ban will be for at least twelve months, and a third time may result in a permanent ban.
Paris MOU has also announced a concentrated campaign on life boat launching arrangements during inspections from September 1 and three months on. This is done in a joint effort with the port state organisation Tokyo MOU.