The United States Coast Guard’s Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has released its 2023 annual report over US port state controls. The aim of the report is to “provide the global maritime industry key statistics and compliance trends in relation to compliance with U.S. and international regulations, such as the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS).”
Vessel Arrivals, Exams, and Detentions
In 2023, a total of 10,959 individual vessels, from 80 different flag administrations, made 81,854 port calls to the U.S. 8,278 Port State Control (PSC) exams were conducted. These exam numbers decreased over the 2022 total of 8,706.
The total number of ships detained in 2023 for environmental protection, safety, and security related deficiencies increased from 78 to 101.
Flag Administration Performance
Flag Administration performance for 2023 dropped with the overall annual detention rate increasing from 0.89% to 1.22%. T he three-year rolling detention ratio also increased from 0.80% to 0.94%. Canada, Isle of Man, and Turkey were removed from the Targeted Flag List this year.
Detention and Association Appeals
In 2023, the Coast Guard received a total of twenty-nine appeals. Fourteen appeals challenged the overall merits of the detention. For those merit appeals, three were granted, seven were denied, and four are under review at this time.
In addition to receiving appeals contesting the overall merits of a detention, we also receive appeals requesting the removal of a party’s association with a detention. For those parties appealing their association with a detention, fifteen were received. Of those, five were granted, and ten were denied.
The Coast Guard welcomes any appeal based on a control action or association of a detention, as well as any deficiency issued by the Coast Guard. For more information on the Coast Guard’s appeal process, please see our process guidance on page seven of this report.
QUALSHIP 21 and E-Zero Programs
The QS21 program ended calendar year 2023 with an impressive 5,066 vessels enrolled. For 2023, six flag administrations lost their eligibility while four new flags became eligible. We would like to welcome the flag administrations of Canada, France, Isle of Man, and Spain and congratulate them for becoming QS21 eligible this year.
The full list of QS21 flag administrations is located in Chapter 2 of the report. The E-Zero program focuses on environmental stewardship and worldwide compliance with international environmental conventions. At the close of 2023, 365 ships were awarded the E-Zero designation.
Enhanced Exam Program
Beginning in 2021, the Coast Guard initiated the Enhanced Exam Program (EEP). This program, similar to the Concentrated Inspection Campaigns (CICs) carried out by port state control MoUs, is intended to increase focus on specific aspects of ship safety on a quarterly basis. This increased focus may vary due to the implementation of new regulations, deficiency trends, or other PSC program interests.
For more details, click below to download the full USCG Annual report:
