2.4.1 When a PSCO inspects a foreign ship which is required to hold a convention
certificate and which is in a port or an offshore terminal under the jurisdiction of the port State,
any such inspection should be limited to verifying that there are on board valid certificates and
other relevant documentation and the PSCO forming an impression of the overall condition of
the ship, its equipment and its crew, unless there are “clear grounds” for believing that the
condition of the ship or its equipment does not correspond substantially with the particulars of
the certificates.
2.4.2 “Clear grounds” to conduct a more detailed inspection include but are not limited to:
.1 the absence of principal equipment or arrangements required by the relevant
conventions, taking into account paragraph 1.2.6;
.2 evidence from a review of the ship’s certificates that a certificate or
certificates are invalid;
.3 evidence that certificates and documents required by the relevant
conventions and listed in appendix 12, part A, are not on board, are
incomplete, are not maintained or are falsely maintained;
.4 evidence from the PSCO’s general impressions and observations that
serious hull or structural deterioration or deficiencies exist that may place at
risk the structural, watertight or weathertight integrity of the ship;
.5 evidence from the PSCO’s general impressions or observations that serious
deficiencies exist in the safety, pollution prevention or navigational
equipment;
.6 information or evidence that the master or crew are not familiar with essential
shipboard operations relating to the safety of ships or the prevention of
pollution, or that such operations have not been carried out;
.7 indications that key crew members may not be able to communicate with
each other or with other persons on board;
.8 the emission of false distress alerts not followed by proper cancellation
procedures; and
.9 receipt of a report or complaint containing information that a ship appears to
be substandard.