ClassNK: Fire Safety Issues Main Reason for Ship Detentions

ClassNK Fire safety-related defficiencies are still the main reason ships are detained, according to the report on Port State Control (PSC) for 2015 issued by Japanese classification society ClassNK. Moreover, international safety management (ISM), emergency systems and lifesaving appliances remain major items where many detainable defficiencies are found, ClassNK said. ClassNKs annual report also provides analyses on PSC detentions by flag state, port state, ship type, ship size, and ship’s age as well as a summary of major amendments made to international conventions such as the SOLAS Convention. These amendments have further widened the scope of PSC inspections, a trend that will undoubtedly continue as the rules applied to ships increase and diversify, ClasssNK said. PSC inspections are carried out to ensure that vessels departing the port meet international standards and help in eliminating substandard ships that are in operation. These inspections oversee not only the physical structures and components of a ship, but also examine operations related to safety management systems and labor conditions.