ABSTRACT Port state control (PSC) inspections are essential for identifying substandard ships, enhancing safety, protecting the marine environment, and safeguarding crew welfare. Yet, correlations between ship features and deficiencies remain underexplored. This study develops a deficiency analysis framework using the Apriori algorithm to mine association rules between ship particulars and deficiencies, as well as among deficiencies. Using Paris MoU data, the results reveal overlooked deficiency clusters and ship type–deficiency patterns. The framework supports more targeted high-risk ship selection, improves PSC efficiency, and contributes to predictive models, maritime digitalization, and smart port development.

ABSTRACT According to world trade data, shipping is the preferred mode of transport in terms of cargo transportation. Ships transport cargo safely from one place to another within the frame work of international regulations. In accordance with the outlined regulations, countries are entitled to conduct inspections of vessels arriving in their ports under the agreements. This study aims to reveal the human factors that cause bridge-based deficiencies in terms of safety of navigation on bulk carriers under Paris Mou inspections. In this respect, the inspections carried out within the framework of the Paris agreement were analysed with a focus on the bridge. The bridge deficiencies of bulk carriers were investigated using the annual reports of the Paris agreement and the data of the 20 most frequent deficiencies. The Delphi method was used to determine the factors that cause these deficiencies in terms of safety of navigation. The Delphi method revealed that experts reached a consensus on several key factors contributing to deficiencies in navigational safety, including lack of motivation, ability, knowledge, familiarity, general awareness, experience, company circulars, excessive workload, fatigue, and stress. However, no consensus was reached regarding the factor of indifference.

The article discusses two of the important Memorandum of understanding that have an impact on the development of Bulgarian maritime transport, such as The Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control - Paris MoU and The Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control in the Black Sea Region - BS MoU. Their essence is briefly examined and based on data on the inspections carried out, it is found that Bulgaria does not have a sufficient number of vessels, which is the basis for its exclusion from the lists of the Paris Memorandum. It is noted that one of the largest Bulgarian shipowners registers its vessels under the flag of Malta, which directs the focus of attention to the conditions for registering ships in that country. The author believes that Bulgaria can study these conditions and implement a similar registration regime in the country.

Comprehensive analysis of ship detention probabilities using binary logistic regression method with machine learning

Kıyı devletleri, limanlarına veya açık deniz tesislerine uğrak yapan yabancı bayraklı gemilere ve personeline liman devleti denetimleri (PSC) gerçekleştirmektedir. Uluslararası denizcilik sözleşmeleri ve Gemilerden Kaynaklanan Kirliliğin Önlenmesine İlişkin Uluslararası Sözleşme (MARPOL) kapsamında denizlerin ve doğal çevrenin korunması amacıyla uygulanan bu denetimler sürdürülebilir, temiz denizler ve doğal çevre açısından son derece önemlidir. Ancak son yıllarda artan deniz ticareti faaliyetleri, denizel çevreye çeşitli nedenlerle büyük ve kalıcı zararlar vermektedir. Ticari faaliyetlerin yürütüldüğü gemi türleri arasında tanker gemileri çevresel açıdan en riskli gemi türü olarak ön plana çıkmaktadır. Fakat denizcilik literatüründe tanker gemilerinin çevresel uygunsuzluklarının değerlendirilmesi konusunda kapsamlı bir çalışma bulunmamaktadır. Ayrıca mevcut çalışmalar uygunsuzlukların içeriği konusunda detaylı bilgi barındırmamakta, doğrudan MARPOL ekleri düzeyinde incelemektedir. Bu motivasyon ile, bu çalışmada tanker gemilerine ait MARPOL uygunsuzlukları Paris MoU kapsamında belirlenerek, gemi özellikleri ile denetim sonuçları arasındaki istatistiksel ilişkiler ortaya konmuştur. Bu bağlamda Paris MoU veri tabanından son beş yılı kapsayan 1.051 PSC denetimi verisi elde edilmiş ve bu denetimlerde MARPOL kapsamında tespit edilen 1.264 adet uygunsuzluk incelenmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda, Tanker gemilerinde sırasıyla en sık olarak; Pis su arıtma ekipmanı (Ek IV - 14402), Çöp yönetim planı (Ek V - 14503) ve Yağ/yakıt filtreleme ekipmanı (Ek I - 14104) ile ilgili MARPOL uygunsuzlukları tespit edildiği ortaya koyulmuştur. Ayrıca, istatistiksel olarak gemi yaşı ve denetim türü ile tespit edilen uygunsuzluklar arasındaki anlamlı ilişkiler olduğu belirlenmiştir. Analiz sonuçlarının mevcut tanker filosunun MARPOL Sözleşmesine uyumluluğunun iyileştirilmesi konusunda gemi işletmecilerine, acentelere ve gemi personeline, denetimlerdeki etkinliğin artırılması konusunda ise bayrak ve liman devleti denetim rejimlerine fayda sağlaması hedeflenmektedir.

This article uses data generated by Port State Control (PSC) inspections of ships in national ports (Paris MoU) to assess their compliance with radio-communications safety regulations. By mainly applying binary logistic regression methods, the aim is to examine and understand the relationship between the severity of deficiencies in maritime communications and some characteristics of inspected ships. The raw data from the PSC detention database from 2005 to 2022 undergoes post-processing before being analyzed to explore patterns and coincidences with the rest of the potential risk areas. To do so, 23,725 PSC inspections were used. Several classification criteria have been proposed that can better gauge the risk related to distress communications at sea from the dataset. The results connect the probability of detention with the ship age at the inspection date, the flag of the registry, the type of ship, and the location of the port within the countries adhering to the Paris MoU. Another achievement is that the number of PSC inspections of maritime communications in a given period is a better indicator of the risk to safety than the total number of deficiencies detected in these inspections during the same period. This study also explores inspection deficiencies related to competency gaps identified in the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) operators, and precisely using the number of PSC inspections as a criterion of risk for safety is consistent with the recommendations of the Maritime Safety Committee Circular (2006), MSC.1/Circ.1208. Another finding from the time series is that a greater rate of decrease is identified for GMDSS equipment-related deficiencies compared to GMDSS training-related deficiencies. This alone poses a review of the refreshing courses and methods to maintain the General Operator Certificate (GOC) qualification to operate maritime radio communications facilities belonging to the (current and future) GMDSS.

A data-driven Bayesian model for evaluating the duration of detention of ships in PSC inspections

A machine learning-based Bayesian model for predicting the duration of ship detention in PSC inspection

A multiple criteria approach for ship risk classification: An alternative to the Paris MoU Ship Risk Profile

The concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) is a derivative of the port state control (PSC) supplement, which is a fixed single series of deficiency inspections performed for three consecutive months at the end of each year. This study used grey relational analysis (GRA) and the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) to analyze the data of 71,376 deficiency records with 496 deficiency codes and 21 ship types in the Paris MoU for the last three years so as to improve the existing focus inspection pattern, which uses only the most accumulated number of deficiency series of the previous year’s PSC inspection. It also combines the three-sigma rule to find the inspection items most likely to be found as deficient by the port state control officer (PFSO) of the member country and creates a new rolling CIC scheme with deficiency inspection data for the last three years, which can filter out the significant deficiency codes with high numbers of deficiency inspections and use them as a modified CIC. It can not only solve the existing CIC’s lack of thoroughness, but also avoid the problems of missing important inspection codes, missing substandard ships, and failing to meet the inspection consensus. The new CIC inspection mechanism created in this paper can indeed identify potential substandard ships more effectively and fill the inspection gap of the existing port state control.

ABSTRACT Radio log book records are one of the significant deficiencies items in port state controls. This study attempts to reveal the legislative gaps in radio log book inspections and to prevent deficiencies related to radio log book records. To address this issue, the annual reports from 2015 to 2020 of nine MoUs are analysed, and the deficiencies of the radio log book records from 2016 to 2020 in the USCG inspections are determined. In order to identify the radio log book records correctly, international regulations are widely scrutinised. In addition to all of these investigations, experts’ assessments are also consulted. Based on the investigation results, we derive three conclusions. First, according to Paris MoU data, 32.9% to 39.4% of the deficiencies in radio communication arise from radio log book records. Second, there are inadequate regulations on how to keep compulsory radio log book records. Third, some contradictions and uncertainties regarding the compulsory records are determined.

A novel FMEA approach for risk assessment of air pollution from ships

Abstract The International Maritime Organization along with couple European countries (Paris MoU) has introduced in 1982 the port state control (PSC) inspections of vessels in national ports to evaluate their compliance with safety and security regulations. This study discusses how the PSC data share common characteristics with Big Data fundamental theories, and by interpreting them as Big Data, we could enjoy their governance and transparency as a Big Data challenge to gain value from their use. Thus, from the scope of Big Data, PSC should exhibit volume, velocity, variety, value, and complexity to support in the best possible way both officers ashore and on board to maintain the vessel in the best possible conditions for sailing. For the above purpose, this paper employs Big Data theories broadly used within the academic and business environment on datasets characteristics and how to access the value from Big Data and Analytics. The research concludes that PSC data provide valid information to the shipping industry. However, the lack of PSC data ability to present the complete picture of PSC regimes and ports challenges the maritime community’s attempts for a safer and more sustainable industry.

Ballast water is recognized as a major vector for the transfer of Harmful Aquatic Organisms and Pathogens (HAOP) and a source of sea pollution that negatively affects the environment and human health. Therefore, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship’s Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) in 2004. The BWM Convention introduced two standards, Ballast Water Exchange Standard (Regulation D-1) and Ballast Water Performance Standard (Regulation D-2). Ships are required to install Ballast Water Treatment (BWT) equipment in order to comply with Regulation D-2. However, the deadline for the installation of BWT is prolonged until September 2024, and many ships are still complying only with Regulation D-1. In addition, there are specific sea areas where Regulation D-1 cannot be complied with, and hence, HAOP could be easily transferred between ports. Consequently, it is essential to develop a system to protect the marine environment, human health and economy in coastal areas from the introduction of HAOP. This paper analyses ballast water discharged in the Port of Ploče (Croatia) according to ship type, age and flag they are flying. It was found that general cargo ships and bulk carriers discharged most of the ballast (87% of the total quantity) in the Port of Ploče. Moreover, discharged ballast water was analysed according to the origin, and it was found that 70% of discharged ballast originates from the Adriatic Sea. Based on the analysis of the research results and literature review, the ballast water risk assessment (BWRA) method was adopted, however, with certain modifications. The adopted method is modified by an additional risk factor (the deballasting ship’s age), different risk scoring of the deballasting ship type and adding Paris MoU Grey and Black lists flag ships as high-risk ships. As a result, the BWRA method presented in the paper could be used as an early warning system and to facilitate the implementation of adequate measures to prevent pollution by discharged ballast water.

This study explores the efficiency level of the current international regulatory framework (MARPOL) in preventing sea pollution during maritime transportation. We employ a game-theoretic approach that models the decisions of shipowners and countries, with respect to the treatment and disposal of waste, where shipowners' decisions are based on comprehensive estimations of all waste management costs for all categories of waste (i.e. all MARPOL Annexes) differentiated across six types of standard risk vessels, while countries' decisions are based on estimates of all societal costs of (im)proper ship waste management. We focus on the Adriatic Sea case study and evaluate the game separately for members and non-members of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (Paris MoU). Our main results seem to indicate that shipowners are generally motivated to be environmentally friendly if sailing Paris MoU waters. Otherwise, shipowners are merely motivated to pollute, due to low inspection rates and expected fines.This study explores the efficiency level of the current international regulatory framework (MARPOL) in preventing sea pollution during maritime transportation. We employ a game-theoretic approach that models the decisions of shipowners and countries, with respect to the treatment and disposal of waste, where shipowners' decisions are based on comprehensive estimations of all waste management costs for all categories of waste (i.e. all MARPOL Annexes) differentiated across six types of standard risk vessels, while countries' decisions are based on estimates of all societal costs of (im)proper ship waste management. We focus on the Adriatic Sea case study and evaluate the game separately for members and non-members of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (Paris MoU). Our main results seem to indicate that shipowners are generally motivated to be environmentally friendly if sailing Paris MoU waters. Otherwise, shipowners are merely motivated to pollute, due to low inspection rates and expected fines.

In the study, PSC inspections data performed in Paris MoU between the years 2016 and 2020 were analysed with the purpose of providing reasonable decision supports for key stakeholders such as ship operators, national and international authorities, cargo owners and classification societies in terms of enhancing safety on board ship and minimizing sub-standard ships in maritime transport. The probabilistic analysis is conducted with the help of Event Tree Analysis (ETA) method on deficiency risk areas respect to the number of deficiencies in each area. In the analysis, the deficiency risk areas are prioritized respect to the different combination of ship type and ship age. In the analysis made on the inspections data, it was found that the number of deficiencies detected under each relevant main item (deficiency risk areas) show significant variation for type of ship and age of ship. With the conducted analysis, in the study, it is aimed to contribute to the more effective inspection by focusing on certain deficiency risk areas in line with the ship type and ship age in the ship inspections.

An integrated dynamic ship risk model based on Bayesian Networks and Evidential Reasoning

Comparative analysis of the impact of new inspection regime on port state control inspection

In the globalized maritime transport sector, with its preponderance of open registries, the controls implemented by the Port State Control should be rigorous but equitable. In this article, we present both stakeholder perceptions of these inspections (based on a questionnaire to which 343 people responded) and a descriptive analysis of real data, using information obtained from European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (Paris MoU) and other regional and national databases. The homogeneity of results was evaluated by country, port and inspector profile based on certain indicators that we developed over the course of our work. The results show significant differences in the number of ships detained and deficiencies found at each port, including within the same maritime administration of the Paris MoU.

IntroductionPort State Control (PSC) is a vital element of sustainable maritime transportation. Inspections of PSC regimes have been ensuring the continuity of the global supply chain as they enforce shipping to implement the maritime regulations to be safe, secure, and environmentally friendly.ObjectiveSince the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the number of onboard ship inspections has decreased inherently for protecting PSC officersand seafarers, while PSC regimes have developed a policy to focus on a high-risk ship based on historical inspection records. In this context, planning for a “new normal” in maritime transportation, it is essential to realize the change in ship inspection numbers and the trend of deficiency - detention factors for the maritime sector to provide current standards. This study aims to present the difference in ship inspection trends between 2017-2020 by focusing on COVID-19 pandemic outbreak data.MethodsComparative analysis with Paris MOU ship inspection & detention figures and entropy-based Grey Relevance Analysis has been used as a methodology to reveal the change in inspection trends after COVID-19.ResultsAfter the pandemic outbreak caused by COVID-19, the number of ship inspections under Paris MOU fell dramatically, however, inspection and detention rate remained the same, also entropy-based Grey Relevance Analysis indicates that detention remarks have also changed compared to last year deficiencies. Detention caused by nautical publication and cleanliness in the engine room has an increasing trend on detentions.ConclusionInspection statistics indicate consistent figures even during the pandemic outbreak, which indicates the current sample group for Paris MOU inspection is healthy. At the same time, entropy-based Grey Relevance Analysis presents a broader insight that the inspection trend on detention deficiencies has varied. Familiarization with the changing trends in inspections will cause fewer detentions of the ships.