2.2.1 In the pursuance of control procedures under the relevant conventions, which, for
instance, may arise from information given to a port State regarding a ship, a PSCO may
proceed to the ship and, before boarding, gain, from its appearance in the water, an impression
of its standard of maintenance from such items as the condition of its paintwork, corrosion or
pitting or unrepaired damage.
2.2.2 At the earliest possible opportunity, the PSCO should ascertain the type of ship, year
of build and size of the ship for the purpose of determining which provisions of the conventions
are applicable.
2.2.3 On boarding and introduction to the master or the responsible ship’s officer, the PSCO
should examine the ship’s relevant certificates and documents required by the relevant
conventions, as listed in appendix 12, part A. PSCOs should note the following:
.1 certificates may be in hard copy or electronic form;
.2 where the ship relies upon electronic certificates:
.1 the certificates and website used to access them should conform with the Guidelines for the use of electronic certificates (FAL.5/Circ.39/Rev.2 and Corr.1);
.2 specific verification instructions are to be available on the ship; and
.3 viewing such certificates on a computer is considered as meeting the requirement that certificates be “on board”;
.3 when examining International Tonnage Certificates, the PSCO should be guided by appendix 10; and
.4 when examining certificates or documentary evidence of seafarers issued in accordance with STCW 1978, the PSCO should be guided by appendix 11; the list of certificates or documentary evidence required under STCW 1978 is also found in table B-I/2 of the STCW Code.
2.2.4 After the certificate and document check, the PSCO should check the overall
condition of the ship, including its equipment, navigational bridge, forecastle, cargo
holds/areas, engine-room and pilot transfer arrangements and verify that any outstanding
deficiency from the previous PSC inspection has been rectified.
2.2.5 If the certificates required by the relevant conventions are valid and the PSCO’s
general impression and visual observations on board confirm a good standard of maintenance,
the PSCO should generally confine the inspection to reported or observed deficiencies, if any.
2.2.6 In pursuance of control procedures under chapter IX of SOLAS 1974 in relation to the
International Safety Management Code (ISM Code), the PSCO should utilize the guidelines in
appendix 8.
2.2.7 If, however, the PSCO from general impressions or observations on board has clear
grounds for believing that the ship, its equipment or its crew do not substantially meet the
requirements, taking into account paragraph 1.2.6, the PSCO should proceed to a more
detailed inspection, taking into consideration sections 2.4 and 2.5. In forming such an
impression, the PSCO should utilize the guidelines in relevant appendices.