Port State Control overview
Objectives for the Port State Control System
The Port State Control (PSC) system exists to verify foreign ships coming to New Zealand ports comply with requirements set down in international conventions and law.
PSC is a key element in protecting New Zealand waters by verifying foreign flagged vessels meet internationally agreed standards in the following areas:
- safety
- security
- environmental protection
- living and working conditions
Ensuring that ships comply with these standards is the responsibility of the ship’s owner, operator and Flag State (the country where the ship is registered). PSC verifies and records compliance at a specific point in time and supplements this responsibility.
Globally, PSC has the following aims:
- reducing the number of substandard vessels travelling around the world
- facilitating trade in a way that ensures safety, security, environmental protection and crew welfare are maintained
PSC inspection activity is undertaken using a risk based, intelligence led approach and efforts focus on vessels that pose the highest risk.
International conventions and Port State Control
The IMO (International Maritime Organization), a specialised agency of the United Nations, is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping.
Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.
The IMO recognises that port State action has made a significant contribution to maritime safety, security, and pollution prevention. To support this, the IMO publishes guidance to help ensure port State control inspections are carried out consistently and effectively worldwide
Conventions from the ILO (International Labour Organization) - the UN specialised agency which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognised human and labour rights – also apply to PSC in regard to crew working and living conditions.
Maritime NZ contributes strongly to the development of conventions that support the PSC system with a view to ensuring that New Zealand’s interests are met as well as possible by these conventions.
Conventions that New Zealand applies for port State control
- the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (SOLAS 1974);
- the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (SOLAS PROT 1988);
- the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966, as amended (LL1966);
- the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966, as amended (LL PROT 1988);
- the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by
- the 1978 and 1997 Protocols, as amended (MARPOL);***(except Annex IV (sewage) as not ratified yet by New Zealand
- the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW 1978);
- the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, as amended (TONNAGE 1969);
- the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, as amended (COLREG 1972);
- the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969 (CLC 1969);
- the Protocol of 1992 to amend the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969, as amended (CLC PROT 1992);
- the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 (BUNKERS 2001);
- the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004, as amended (BWM 2004);
- Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC 2006)
- International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F), 1995
Inspection campaigns and current topics
Maritime NZ may conduct focussed inspection campaigns to raise awareness of topical issues as they arise. Learn more here.