The Merchant Shipping Directorate has issued a merchant shipping notice in order to draw the attention of all concerned that a Port State Control Concentrated Inspection Campaign, will be launched on MARPOL Annex IV. This campaign will commence on the 01st September 2018 and end on the 30th November 2018 and will be launched jointly by the Paris MoU and the Tokyo MoU.

The Inspection Campaign is intended to create awareness regarding the importance of compliance with the provisions of MARPOL Annex VI and aims to send a signal that the prevention of air pollution and enforcement of compliance with applicable requirements is high on the agenda of members of both MoUs.

Port State Control Officers will use a questionnaire consisting of 11 questions to ensure that the equipment carried on board complies with the relevant statutory certificates, the master and officers are qualified and familiar with operations and that equipment is properly maintained and functioning.  In the eventuality that deficiencies are found by Port State Control Officers, actions may vary from recording a deficiency and instructing the master to rectify it within a certain period of time to detaining the ship until the serious deficiencies have been rectified.

It is the responsibility of all concerned to take the necessary actions to ensure full compliance prior to entry into port.

Click here to read the MS Notice 146, as issued by Transport Malta, or contact us on [email protected] for further guidance and information.