CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR PORT STATE CONTROL OFFICERS

Actions and behaviour of PSCOs

PSCOs should: 

1.         Use their professional judgment in carrying out their duties.

 Respect 

2.         Remember that a ship is a home as well as a workplace for the ship's personnel and not unduly disturb their rest or privacy. 

3.         Comply with any ship housekeeping rules such as removing dirty shoes or work clothes. 

4.         Not be prejudiced by the race, religion or nationality of the crew when making decisions and treat all personnel on board with respect. 

5.         Respect the authority of the Master or his deputy. 

6.         Be polite but professional and firm as required. 

7.         Never become threatening, abrasive or dictatorial or use language that may cause offence. 

8.         Expect to be treated with courtesy and respect. 

Conduct of Inspection 

9.         Comply with all health and safety requirements of the ship and their administration e.g. wearing of personal protective clothing, and not take any action or cause any action to be taken which could compromise the safety of the PSCO or the ship’s crew. 

10.       Comply with all security requirements of the ship and wait to be escorted around the ship by a responsible person. 

11.       Present their identity cards to the Master or the representative of the owner at the start of the inspection. 

12.       Explain the reason for the inspection - however where the inspection is triggered by a report or complaint they must not reveal the identity of the person making the complaint. 

13.       Apply the procedures of PSC and the convention requirements in a consistent and professional way and interpret them pragmatically when necessary.  

14.       Not try to mislead the crew, for example by asking them to do things that are contrary to the conventions. 

15.       Request the crew to demonstrate the functioning of equipment and operational activities, such as drills and not make tests themselves. 

16.       Seek advice when they are unsure of a requirement or of their findings rather than making an uninformed decision, for example by consulting colleagues, publications, the flag Administration, the recognized organization. 

17.       Where it is safe to do so accommodate the operational needs of the port and the ship. 

18.       Explain clearly to the master the findings of the inspection and the corrective action required and ensure that the report of inspection is clearly understood. 

19.       Issue to the master a clear report of inspection before leaving the ship.  

Disagreements 

20.       Deal with any disagreement over the conduct or findings of the inspection calmly and patiently. 

21.       Advise the master of the complaints procedure in place if the disagreement cannot be resolved within a reasonable time.

22.       Advise the Master of the appeal procedure as well as the national right of appeal in the case of detention.  

Impartiality 

23.       Be independent and not have any commercial interest in the ports and ships they inspect or companies providing services in that port, for example not be employed from time to time by companies which operate ships to their ports or have an interest in the repair companies in that port. 

24.       Be free to make decisions based on the findings of their inspections and not on any commercial considerations of the port. 

25.       Always follow the rules of their administrations regarding the acceptance of gifts and favours e.g. meals on board. 

26.       Firmly refuse any attempts of bribery and report any blatant cases to the maritime authority.  

Updating knowledge 

27.       Update their technical knowledge regularly.