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Posted on : 11/20/2025, 9:03:00 PM
Port State Control Detention, or PSC Detention, is one of the most applied safety and security strategies by ports to ensure that any ship goes through control inspection before sailing.
Moreover, PSC detention follows the MOU guidance grounds for detention list to control PSC inspections based on the MOU international standards.
In this article, we will share with you detailed information about PSC detention, reasons for a detention of a ship at port, what the safety measures are in a PSC inspection, and more to help you understand all about PSC detention.
PSC detention is a shortcut for Port State Control Detention, which is the term used to refer to a ship detention in the port ground after failing to pass the PSC inspection and meet international safety, environmental, or crew welfare standards.
Usually, the Port State Control (PSC) detention happens when individual deficiency or to the PSC inspection list are found, which could risk the vessel, people, or the environment while shipping or even at berth.
After PSC inspections that lead to port detentions, the ship cannot sail until all safety issues and findings are solved based on the MOU guard standards, which helps maintain high maritime safety and compliance by all ships and vessels at sea.
There are many reasons for PSC detentions in port based on MOU standards and principles to ensure safety on sea for the crew, ship and cargo.
Knowing these reasons for PSC detentions and how to avoid them will for sure boost maritime resource management (MRM) strategies and results in all decided exams and inspections:
Safety is one of the most popular reasons for PSC detentions during inspections, as this reason could lead to holding the ship till it is solved, this could include faulty firefighting systems, damaged lifesaving equipment, or poor ship maintenance.
This could lead to direct risks to the crew, vessel, and environment if not prepared properly.
This PSC detention reason includes incorrect, missing, or expired certificates, data of activities, and ship records, which are all required during inspections by port authorities to confirm that the vessel is compliant with international IMO standards.
Especially, any gaps or missing documentation raise serious concerns about overall ship management and safety culture.
Ships are detained when essential pollution-control systems are substandard, whether we are talking about oily water separators, sewage treatment systems, or garbage management plans.
PSC inspectors or operators do not tolerate similar failures during PSC inspections, as these directly impact intentional marine pollution control codes and efforts in international and national waters.
This point is also as important in Port State Control detention, as the ship seafarers must have the required knowledge and real training to keep the ship safe in all conditions, and be able to follow updated MOU standards effectively.
Thus, the PSC inspection or detention ensures that only capable and experienced crews handle complex onboard equipment, annual rectification guidelines, and safety systems without any considered omissions during the procedure.
Maritime security training courses in London are your only way to avoid Port State Control (PSC) detention and avoid your ship detention, but also the way to master maritime safety standards and principles professionally.
The first step in the Port State Control (PSC) process is the enforcement of a full ship inspection by PSC officers to check a foreign ship's safety, environmental, and operational standards.
This coast action must include equipment, documents, crew competence, and total ship condition to give sail permission.
During the PSC inspection, and if Post State Control (PSC) inspectors find something unsafe, non-compliant, or poorly maintained, they will consider and report it as a deficiency, set its level, and announce the PSC detention of the ship to prevent sailing.
After identifying the errors, based on conducted international maritime conventions, it will be evaluated based on its risk level, minor, major, or critical. Moreover, critical deficiencies that threaten safety, the environment, or crew welfare can lead directly to applying PSC detention till the vessel is rectified.
If serious issues are found, Port State Control (PSC) stops the ship from sailing until all required repairs and fixes are completed. Then, PSC inspectors will verify that everything meets MOU regulations and clear the vessel to continue its voyage.
Port State Control (PSC) detention is a very important motivation for maritime companies and ship owners to keep everything functioning as it should be, providing transparent maintenance yearly, and following MOU standards.
However, to master and pass PSC inspection, you need one of the London Maritime Academy (LMA) safety and security courses in any one of LMA's regional offices in London, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Athens, Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul, Dubai, or Singapore to gain a full understanding of the PSC procedure.
