Port state control
PSC
Meaning
Port state control (PSC) is the inspection of foreign ships in a country's ports to check they meet international safety and pollution rules.
Also written as PSC detention
Port state control explained
Regional regimes such as the Paris MOU and Tokyo MOU target higher-risk ships. Serious deficiencies can lead to detention, which delays the ship and usually puts it off hire or stops laytime.
Recent PSC detentions show up in vetting and can make charterers reject a ship.
Related terms
Vetting
Vetting is an oil company's or charterer's risk assessment of a tanker, using inspection reports and history, before agreeing to charter it or accept it at a terminal.
Off-hire
Off-hire is a period when a time-chartered ship cannot work as required, such as during a breakdown, so the charterer stops paying hire.