DNV has developed a new tool kit to help shipowners and managers prepare for Port State Control (PSC) inspections.

The new tool kit is practical and cost-effective, and offers advanced advice, guidelines and training on the topic of PSC

Richard Badham, group leader in DNV’s Maritime Service Centre in Dubai

In a major effort to reverse the recent negative trend in port state detentions, DNV has developed a Port State Control Toolkit that is especially designed to raise awareness and focus attention on pro-active preparation for port state inspections.

“Port state detention statistics are one of the most important ways by which the maritime industry ranks the quality of the work done by Classification Societies,” said Richard Badham, group leader in DNV’s Maritime Service Centre in Dubai. “Both DNV and our clients should have a common interest in improving our statistics since this will lead to fewer inspections of DNV Classed vessels thereby lowering the already heavy workload on crews and reducing delays in port. DNV is committed to being the best performing Class Society on port state detention statistics.”

The DNV Port State Control Toolkit is the result of research undertaken with clients in 2008 and constitutes the first phase of a continuous process aimed at enabling DNV to offer more specific advice, guidelines and training on the topic of port state control.

The new tool kit is practical and cost-effective, and will help ship managers easily establish ship specific procedures reflecting their company’s own working practices adapted to PSC requirements according to Mr Badham.
The tool kit consists of:
1. A booklet titled ‘Port State Control – Top Detention Items’
2. The DNV PSC Wizard – software enabling creation of a ship specific checklists
3. Port State Control Posters displaying good and bad practice
4. A DNV PSC Tool Kit Folder for storing documentation related to inspections

The release coincides with the recent announcement that DNV has been named best-performing Recognised Organisation in 2008 by the Paris MOU. “Europe’s Port-State Control authority is regarded as a reliable indication of the performance of each Classification Society so we’re very pleased to be number 1 in the Paris MOU rankings,” commented Mr Badham.

“DNV and ship-owners both know that detentions cost time and money. This is one reason why DNV is continually looking for pro-active ways to support owners in maintaining the standard of their vessels whilst the authorities naturally concentrate on the re-active role of cracking down on substandard ships and owners,” added Mr Badham and concluded, “The fact that DNV has the lowest detention rates reflects the dedication of our surveyors and the quality of the ship-owners and managers who choose to Class their vessels with DNV.”