Port state control, alternative fuels and compliance trends you need to know about

The regulatory landscape governing maritime operations is undergoing a transformation that will impact shipowners, operators and regulatory bodies alike.

At Liberian Registry’s (LISCR) Technical Seminar, held at Trinity House, London on 4 February 2025, experts outlined key regulatory developments, focusing on upcoming amendments to international conventions, the growing complexity of port state control (PSC) enforcement, and the accelerating shift towards alternative fuels.

One of the central themes was the evolving role of PSC in enforcing compliance. LISCR vice president port state control affairs, Norm Witt provided a detailed assessment of recent PSC trends, highlighting fire safety, life-saving appliances and maintenance-related ISM Code deficiencies remain primary detention triggers.

Data from the Paris and Tokyo MOUs, as well as the US Coast Guard, indicate deficiencies related to structural integrity, fire doors and rescue boats frequently result in detentions.

The US Coast Guard’s 2023 statistics recorded “30% of detentions were due to fire safety issues, followed by 26% related to ISM Code maintenance failures.”

LISCR has intensified its engagement with PSC authorities worldwide, undertaking 35 visits to US Coast Guard units in 2024 alone, prioritising high-volume inspection locations.

The aim, Mr Witt explained, is to ensure clear communication between the flag state and regulatory bodies. He noted LISCR is actively working to “demonstrate oversight and ensure dispensation letters and single voyage authorisations are properly understood and accepted by PSC authorities.”

However, flag state approval of dispensations does not guarantee acceptance by PSC inspectors, leading to inconsistencies in enforcement.

Beyond enforcement trends, the seminar addressed critical regulatory changes that will come into force over the next two years. One of the most pressing concerns for shipowners is the new IMO requirement for lifting appliances and anchor-handling winches.

LISCR senior vice president, maritime operations Cedric D’Souza outlined the implications of the amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-1, which will require all new lifting appliances with a safe working load of 1 tonne or more to be designed, constructed and installed according to classification society rules from 1 January 2026. Existing lifting appliances will be required to undergo their first renewal survey after this date, triggering mandatory load testing and operational examinations.

Mr D’Souza noted, “Class societies working with Liberia are still finalising rules, with at least eight having published frameworks and four others still in development.”

The implementation timeline provides shipowners with a limited window to ensure compliance, and failure to do so will expose vessels to PSC scrutiny.

Mr D’Souza cautioned port state control inspectors are likely to focus on lifting appliances during routine inspections from 2026 onwards, particularly in regions with historically stringent enforcement regimes, such as Australia and the United States.

“We expect PSC will request maintenance records, rigging plans and inspection logs even before the mandatory load testing deadline,” he explained.