Inspections

In Canada, Port State Control inspections are conducted under the auspice of the Canada Shipping Act to determine compliance with IMO and ILO Maritime conventions. In accordance with procedures established by the Paris and Tokyo Memoranda of Understanding on Port State Control, the inspections are determined to be either clean, with deficiencies or detained. Canada is a member of both Memoranda.

During the past four years, the number of inspections has fluctuated from 1011 to 1348, which coincides with the number of ships trading at Canadian Ports. The trend over the past four years shows that every second year the number of inspections decreases by approximately 150 vessels. The percentage of inspections of ships entering Canadian ports each year has also slightly decreased, which is due to improved targetting methods.

Table 1 represents a comparison of ships inspected, ships with deficiencies and detentions which occurred in Canada over the last five years.

Table 1

In 1999, Canada inspected 1076 ships from 86 registered countries (Table 2).

Table 2 - Ships Inspected in Canada by Flag 1995 - 1999

Table 3 gives a listing of district offices where inspections were conducted. Of the 1076 inspections conducted, 44% were bulk carriers, this percentage is the same as in the previous year.

Table 3 - Inspections by Ports/Offices 1995-1999

Figure 1 - Ships Inspected in Canada by Type of Vessel 1999

Deficiencies

Regarding the 1076 Port State Control inspections, 563 ships (52.3%) had deficiencies which is an increase of 3.1% from 1998. As in previous years, the major deficiencies were
Lifesaving, Firefighting, Navigation Equipment, and Safety in General.

Of the 2970 deficiencies in 1999, the highest numbers were in the categories of Fire Fighting Appliances (483), followed by Safety in General (461), Lifesaving Appliances (438), and Navigation Equipment (368).

Lifeboat Launching device has to be pried open

Deck grating corroded and holed

These four categories account for 1750 defects, 59% of the total deficiencies observed during 1999. Over the past four years, these categories have had the largest number of defects in relation to all defects discovered, around 60% (see figure 2). Sample deficiencies found on
vessels entering in Canadian ports (previous page and below).

Tied up and corroded nozzles on firehoses

Figure 2 - Deficiencies by Category, 1999

The first full year of Implementation of the ISM Code was in 1999. It came into force July 1, 1998 for passenger ships, tankers, bulk carriers, gas carriers and cargo high speed craft of 500 gross tonnage and upwards. Each of the above mentioned vessels must have a valid Safety Management Certificate onboard and a copy of the Document of Compliance of the company. In Canada, we inspected 1076 vessels which had 2970 deficiencies of these deficiencies 87 were related to ISM. The following table gives a breakdown of ISM deficiencies found during PSC
inspections in Canada.

Table 3 - ISM Deficiencies

Detentions

In Canada, ships are detained under the Canada Shipping Act when deficiencies are found which render the vessel unseaworthy or substandard based on standards and/or the judgement of the Inspector. Examples of detainable deficiencies are shown in the photographs below.

Of the 1076 inspections performed during 1999, 125 ships were detained from 28 different countries (Table 4).

Seized liferaft release mechanism

Corroded Mooring arrangement

Table 4 - Ships Detained by Flag 1995 - 1999

The detention rate in Canada with respect to the number of ships inspected is 11.6%, which is a very slight decrease from 1998.

Deck plating corroded which could lead to serious consequences

Figure 8 shows the relationship of the types of ships detained during 1999. Bulk Carriers continue to have the largest number of detentions at 58.4%, which is down from 70.4% from last year (1998).

Figure 8 - Detentions by type of ships 1999

Figures 9 and 10 demonstrate the comparison between the number of ships inspected, ships with deficiencies and ships detained by region and Classification Society.

Figure 9 - Ships inspected, ships with deficiencies and ships detained by region

Figure 10 - Ships inspected, ships with deficiencies and ships detained by Classification Society

For more statistical information and photographs please visit our website on Canadian Port State Control:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/MarineSafety/Ships-and-operations-standards/Inspection/Port-State-Control/menu.htm  or for French version at; http://www.tc.gc.ca/SecuriteMaritime/Normes-Navires-et-Exploitations/Inspection/control-etat-port/menu.htm