# PSC Inspection Readiness and Deficiency Close-Out | Faromo Canonical: https://faromo.com/en/resources/psc-inspection-readiness-guide Language: en Understand initial, detailed and expanded PSC inspections, including documents, overall condition, clear grounds, deficiencies and close-out. Modified: 2026-08-16 Reviewed: 2026-08-16 Plan how an inspection starts, which signs may lead to more detailed control and how a deficiency is reconciled with its official action-taken requirement. This guide does not replace a PSCO’s professional judgement or port authority instructions. The Paris MoU 2025 report shows a detention rate of 4.18%. Of recorded deficiencies, 16.8% concerned SOLAS II-2 fire safety, 11.6% SOLAS II-1 structural and electrical matters, and 10.0% MLC Title IV health and welfare; ISM-related deficiencies accounted for 4.5%. These are regional, not global, statistics, but they show why readiness must cover physical condition, human elements and SMS implementation alongside documents. Under the 2025 IMO Procedures for Port State Control, an initial inspection includes certificates/documents and checks concerning the ship’s overall condition, equipment and crew. Clear grounds may lead to a more detailed inspection, while eligible ships may receive an expanded inspection. Scope is shaped by applicable instruments and the PSCO’s professional judgement, not a fixed company checklist. ## 1. Establish the official context Determine the port regime, current IMO/ILO instruments, official inspection history, SRP/priority status and any concentrated inspection campaign through authoritative sources. ## 2. Verify the vessel-specific document matrix Refine annex/list baselines by flag, vessel type, age, tonnage, cargo, trade and exemption conditions. Check certificates by number, issuer, validity, endorsement and onboard access. ## 3. Reconcile physical condition with records Compare visible condition on the bridge, accommodation, deck, cargo spaces and engine room with PMS, defect, temporary-repair, survey and risk records. Do not assume a record marked “closed” matches onboard condition. ## 4. Test operational proficiency Assess whether crew can explain and demonstrate drills, emergency procedures, steering, GMDSS, pollution response, cargo operations and ISPS controls alongside rest-hour and safe-manning records. ## 5. Check prior deficiencies against official conditions Open the deficiency code/reference, action taken, rectification deadline and verification condition from the inspection report. Do not assume an internal CAPA marked complete closes the official obligation. ## 6. Reconcile the new result with source records Enter Form A/B, detention/release outcome and action taken for each deficiency, then link CAPA and evidence to the relevant PMS, HSEQ, crew, certificate or document record. ## Workflow 1. Retrieve official status: Verify port, regime, inspection history, selection/SRP and campaign information. 2. Prioritize internal gaps: Order document, physical, operational and human-element gaps by impact and evidence. 3. Record the inspection outcome accurately: Preserve official reference, action, deadline, detention and verification conditions without converting them into an internal interpretation. 4. Complete close-out in two layers: Complete internal CAPA and effectiveness review, then separately reconcile PSCO/authority verification required by the official action taken. ## How does a PSC inspection normally begin? It normally begins with applicable certificates and documents plus a check of the ship’s overall condition. The PSCO may consider equipment, living and working conditions and whether the crew meets relevant requirements. ## What are clear grounds? They are evidence which, in the PSCO’s professional judgement, indicates that the ship, equipment or crew may not substantially meet applicable requirements. Missing/invalid documents, poor condition or an unrectified prior deficiency may be examples; the PSCO makes the final assessment. ## Does every deficiency mean detention? No. The inspection report may assign different action-taken codes and rectification deadlines. Detention is applied through the competent authority’s professional judgement where the ship or crew substantially fails applicable requirements. ## Is a photo alone enough to close a deficiency? Not always. Required evidence depends on the action-taken code and verification condition in the official report. Technical records, service/survey evidence, CAPA, root cause, effectiveness review or PSCO/authority verification may be required. ## Is a company PSC checklist an official inspection list? No. An internal checklist helps expose readiness and record gaps. A PSCO may examine different or deeper areas based on current instruments, ship condition, clear grounds, regime procedures and professional judgement. ## Sources - [Port State Control](https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/iiis/pages/port%20state%20control.aspx) - [Procedures for Port State Control, 2025 — A.1206(34)](https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/AssemblyDocuments/A.1206%2834%29.pdf) - [Paris MoU inspection types and inspection process](https://parismou.org/inspection-type/) - [Paris MoU inspection results and deficiency actions](https://parismou.org/inspection-outcome/) - [Paris MoU Ship Risk Profile](https://parismou.org/ship-risk-calculations/) - [Paris MoU Annual Report 2025](https://parismou.org/paris-mou-publishes-the-annual-report-of-2025/)