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MARINE POLLUTION PREVENTION
POCKET CHECKLIST
Reducing the risk of Port State Control detentions

In conjunction with:

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Introduction
MARPOL infringements can result in both company management and seafarers being liable to criminal prosecution and imprisonment for deliberate violation of
MARPOL requirements or falsification of records. In addition, there are risks of large fines amounting to millions of dollars.
In conjunction with an industry partner, the UK P&I Club, we have analysed data including deficiencies found by Port State
Control Officers relating to marine pollution prevention. The result is this convenient and re-usable Checklist, highlighting the most common deficiencies listed by the MARPOL Annexes.
An Appendix covering Ballast Water Management is included as this is an area, that, while not directly linked to
MARPOL is receiving increasing focus.
To help reduce these risks, as a minimum, the items on the chart on page 4 should be included as part of your final checks prior to voyage and port entry to ensure they continue to conform to international convention requirements. It is strongly advised that all items in this aide memoire are checked on an ongoing basis to supplement your own operational and maintenance procedures and your flag State’s requirements.
This is the second in a series of pocket checklists to help you comply with international convention requirements. For information about our other checklists please visit www.lr.org.

Lloyd’s Register, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as the ‘Lloyd's
Register Group’. The Lloyd's Register Group assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Lloyd's Register Group entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.

Marine Pollution Prevention
© Lloyd’s Register / UK P&I Club, 2006

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Are you prepared for a Port State
Control Inspection?
PSC officers always commence their inspection in the Master’s office. It is essential that certification is up to date, original and valid. All other necessary documents and manuals should, where required, be approved and onboard.
If equipment is broken or missing, or the ship has suffered damage en-route, the Master must notify the port authorities prior to port entry. If the port authorities are informed of the problem and of any permanent or temporary remedies agreed with the flag State, the vessel should not be detained.
However, if notice is not given before entry, the Port State has clear grounds for inspection, possibly leading to a detention.
If your ship is detained, or appears to be in the process of being detained, you should contact the nearest Lloyd’s
Register Group office immediately for assistance.
The major PSC organisations publish their criteria for targeting a ship on their web sites. Ship owners and operators should use these criteria to calculate the target rating of their ships.
Paris MOU - www.parismou.org
Tokyo MOU - www.tokyo-mou.org
USCG - www.uscg.mil/hq/gm/pscweb
Other MOUs include Abuja, Black Sea, Caribbean, Indian
Ocean, Mediterranean, Riyadh and Vina del Mar.
A ship operator may disagree with the findings of the PSC
Authority and the majority of the regional PSC organisations have guidelines on how to appeal against a detention. These can also be found on the above web sites.
IMO Procedures for Port State Control, Appendix 1 also provides guidelines