Procedures for Port State Control, 2025 - 2026 Edition

Foreword

Procedures for port State control, 2025 (resolution A.1206(34))

Chapter 1 - General

Chapter 2 - Port State inspections

Chapter 3 - Contravention and detention

Chapter 4 - Reporting requirements

Chapter 5 - Review procedures

Appendices

Appendix 1 - Code of good practice for port State control officers conducting inspections within the framework of the regional memoranda of understanding and agreement on port State control (MSC-MEPC.4/Circ.2)

Appendix 2 - Guidelines for the detention of ships

Appendix 3 - Guidelines for investigations and inspections carried out under MARPOL Annex I

Appendix 4 - Guidelines for investigations and inspections carried out under MARPOL Annex II

Appendix 5 - Guidelines for discharge requirements under MARPOL Annexes I and II

Appendix 6 - Guidelines for more detailed inspections of ship structural and equipment requirements

Appendix 7 - Guidelines for control of operational requirements

Appendix 8 - Guidelines for port State control officers on the ISM Code

Appendix 9 - Guidelines for port State control related to LRIT

Appendix 10 - Guidelines for port State control under TONNAGE 1969

Appendix 11 - Guidelines for port State control officers on certification of seafarers, manning and hours of rest

Appendix 12 - List of certificates and documents

Appendix 13 - Report of inspection in accordance with Procedures for port State control

Appendix 14 - Report of deficiencies not fully rectified or only provisionally rectified

Appendix 15 - Report of action taken to the notifying authority

Appendix 16 - Format for the report of contravention of MARPOL (article 6)

Appendix 17 - Comments by flag State on detention report

Appendix 18 - Guidelines for port State control under MARPOL Annex VI

Appendix 19 - Guidelines for inspection of anti-fouling systems on ships

Appendix 20 - Guidelines for port State control officers on security aspects

Appendix 21 - List of instruments relevant to Procedures for port State control, 2025

Additional information - Port State control regimes: comparative table (extracts from document III 11/INF.14)

IMO

As a specialised agency of the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 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.

In other words, its role is to create a level playing field so that ship operators cannot address their financial issues by simply cutting corners and compromising on safety, security and environmental performance. This approach also encourages innovation and efficiency.

Shipping is a truly international industry, and it can only operate effectively if the regulations and standards are themselves agreed, adopted and implemented on an international basis. And IMO is the forum at which this process takes place.