Following the outbreak of the ongoing Covid-19, Pandemic, the number of PSC inspections carried out decreased enormously. Because of this, for new entrants and existing Port State Control Officers (PSCOs) have difficulties to achieve or maintain their authorization as the minimum numbers of inspections might not be achieved.
In addition that, training activities undertaken by either member States or other organizations has been cancelled or postponed. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, neither face-to-face nor virtual training programme for new entrant PSCOs has been anticipated by the Secretariat.
The Section 2.7 of the BS MOU Policy on the Training of New Entrant PSC Officers sets out the criteria to apply for “special circumstances”. These circumstances are defined as “circumstances which are beyond the control of the responsible Administration and which make it unreasonable for a new entrant PSCO to reach the minimum number of supervised inspections during their training”.
In accordance with the BS MOU Policy on the Professional Development Scheme for Port State Control Officers, there have been difficulties for PSCO subject to Common Assessment of Compliance (CAC) to achieve the minimum number of supervised inspections.
Also, during the Covid-19, Pandemic, existing PSCOs, may equally be faced with circumstances beyond the control of their Administrations rendering it impossible to either achieve the minimum number of 10 inspections per year, or to fulfil the additional training requirements.
News
Notice to PSCOs No.14 Interim Training Measures for BS MOU Policies on the Training of New Entrant PSCOs
Notice to PSCOs No.14 Interim Training Measures for BS MOU Policies on the Training of New Entrant PSCOsPSCC22 Press Release
Istanbul, Turkey – In the light of the current tense geopolitical situation, representatives of the Port State Control Committee, the governing body under the Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control in the Black Sea Region (BS MoU), by virtual means, for the Twenty-second session from 12 to 13 April 2022.
The meeting was chaired by Captain Alexandar ILIEV - Harbour Master of Port Burgas, Bulgaria.
Captain ILIEV officially declared the opening of the meeting and made a welcome speech. In his opening speech, Capt. Iliev firstly welcomed all delegates. Expressing that the Region is passing through difficult days, Capt. Iliev recalled the common understanding of main principles for PSC and stressed the fundamental role of port State control for the high level of vessel safety standards that are essential for safe and clean seas. He also revealed the convincement on the continuing role of the Black Sea MoU to be the important part of the international cooperation and efforts for safe and clean Oceans.
Notice to PSCOs No.13 Interim Guideline Relating to the Covid-19 Circumstances
The Port State Control Committee has considered and agreed that, noting the global impact of the Covid-19, there is the practical need to apply flexibility under these special circumstances. Within the Black Sea region, national measures will be implemented by member authorities that are, to a large extent affecting the port State control regime. While the Covid-19 remains an issue, the following guidelines should be applied on a case by case basis by member Authorities of the BS MoU.
Press Release CIC on Stability in General
The member Authorities of the Memorandum of Understanding on PSC in the Black Sea Region (BS MoU) will conduct a concentrated inspection campaign on Stability in General.
The three-month campaign will start on September 1st, 2021 and end on November 30th, 2021 under the co-ordination of Romanian Naval Authority. The campaign shall be conducted simultaneously with the Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU and other MoUs.