Maritime Coastguard Agency
Introduction
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is responsible for checking that ships visiting UK ports and anchorages meet UK and international safety rules. Under a EU directive on Port State Control, the agency can inspect foreign-flagged ships calling at UK ports and anchorages. The MCAs Regulation 2011 S.I. No. 2601, The Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Regulations 2011 and Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1832 explain how the directive is incorporated into UK law.
Vessels visiting EU ports are subject to periodic checks and in-depth expanded inspections.
Expanded inspections are carried out on the following types of vessels due for a periodic port state inspection:
- vessels with a high ship risk profile, as recorded on the Paris Memorandum of Understanding database
- oil, gas, or chemical tankers over 12 years old
- bulk carriers over 12 years old
- passenger ships over 12 years old
Masters, owners or operators of such vessels must give the MCA 72 hours notice, before their expected time of arrival, or before leaving the previous port or anchorage, if the voyage is expected to take less than 72 hours.
This guide explains what expanded inspections involve for different types of vessels, and lists organisations that can provide further information.
Vessels subject to expanded inspections
The MCA carries out expanded Port State Control inspections of foreign-flagged ships calling at UK ports or anchorages, under regulations explained in the MCAs Regulation 2011 S.I. No. 2601, The Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Regulations 2011 and Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1832.
Expanded Port State Control inspections are carried out on high risk ships. The basis of a vessels ship risk profile determines the length of time since its last inspection and ship type and age. Ships can be classified as:
- high risk profile - those that have not been inspected in the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) region during the previous five months
- standard risk profile - those that have not been inspected in the Paris MoU region during the previous ten months
- low risk profile - those that have not been inspected in the Paris MoU region during the previous 24 months
You can check the risk profile of a ship using the Paris MoU online risk calculator.
Expanded inspections are also carried out on vessels over 12 years old, irrespective of their Risk Profile, in the following categories:
- oil tankers
- gas and chemical tankers
- bulk carriers
- passenger ships
Ro-Ro or high-speed passenger craft do not need to undergo an expanded inspection under Port State Control.
For more information, see the page in this guide reporting requirements for vessels subject to expanded inspections.
See MSN 1832 New Port State Control Directive
How to report requirements for vessels subject to expanded inspections
If a vessel is eligible for an expanded inspection, the owners must complete theMCAs Expanded Inspection Ship Arrival form and send it to theMCAMarine office for its next UK port of call.
Owners should send the form either 72 hours before the vessel arrives, or when it leaves its previous port if the voyage is due to last under 72 hours. Forms can be emailed or faxed toMCAoffices, or to theMCAs headquarters via the ships agent.
It is an offence not to report a vessel eligible for an expanded inspection, and enforcement action may be taken. Such failures to report are recorded in the ParisMoUinspection reporting system - making the vessel a priority for inspection at its next port of call within the ParisMoUregion.
The following information should be provided:
(a) ship identification (name, call sign, IMO identification number or MMSI number);
(b) planned duration of the call;
(c) for tankers:
(i) configuration: single hull, single hull with SBT, double hull;
(ii) condition of the cargo and ballast tanks: full, empty, inerted;
(iii) volume and nature of the cargo;
(d) planned operations at the port or anchorage of destination (loading, unloading, other);
(e) planned statutory survey inspections and substantial maintenance and repair work to be carried out whilst in the port of destination;
(f) date of last expanded inspection in the Paris MOU region.
For more information see the page in this guide on what an expanded inspection involves.
What an expanded inspection involves
Expanded inspections of vessels involve detailed checks of construction elements and safety systems by inspectors from the MCA. Inspectors must ensure that their visits do not compromise the safety of seafarers carrying out on-board operations, such as cargo handling.
Areas checked during an expanded inspection
All ship types are subject to expanded inspection and the following areas will be checked:
- structural condition
- watertight/weathertight condition
- emergency systems
- radio communications
- fire safety systems
- alarms
- living and working conditions
- lifesaving appliances
- pollution prevention measures
Structural checks involve assessment of the hull and deck condition. Watertight doors, ventilators and hatchways are also inspected.
Emergency system checks cover emergency lighting, as well as steering gear and bilge pumping equipment. Radio communication assessments cover areas such as main installation functioning, global maritime distress safety systems, and back-up energy sources.
Fire safety tests include tests of the crews ability to use firefighting equipment and firemens outfits. Tests of fire doors, extinguisher systems, alarms, and remote stopping of ventilation and fuel pump systems are also carried out.
Inspectors also check seafarer living and working conditions, such as the condition of mooring equipment, including machinery foundations. They will also review launching arrangements for survival and rescue craft and test the effectiveness of oil filtering equipment in preventing pollution.
In addition to the above the following areas will also be inspected depending on ship type.
Bulk carrier inspections
Specific areas checked for bulk carriers and ore-bulk-oil (OBO) vessels - if carrying solid bulk cargo - include documentation and structural condition.
Vessel owners must provide evidence that certified enhanced survey programme (ESP) documents are on board, including:
- structural survey reports
- thickness measurement reports
- condition evaluation reports
- approval for loading instruments
- documents associated with dangerous goods cargoes
Structural checks of bulk carriers cover areas such as bulkheads and ballast tanks.
Gas tankers and chemical tankers
For these types of vessels, expanded inspection checks cover areas such as:
- documentation - a relevant certificate of fitness
- cargo operations - cargo tank monitoring and safety devices
- fire safety - fixed fire-fighting installations on deck
- living and working conditions - cabin escape sets of appropriate respiratory and eye protection gear
General cargo vessels
Expanded inspections also cover the following types of vessel:
- general cargo
- container
- refrigerated cargo carrier
- factory
- heavy load carrier
- offshore service
- special