USCG Port State Control
For a US call, organise notifications, documents and the ship’s condition against applicable USCG requirements and local instructions; check targeting, flag eligibility and the ship’s QUALSHIP 21 enrollment separately.
Operational Explanation
USCG targeting considers the risk matrix, ship history, Company, RO and flag performance, type or event, local information and random checks. Absence from QUALSHIP 21 does not demonstrate boarding at the majority of calls.
Preparation starts with the actual call: vessel type and cargo, intended operations, certificates and previous USCG reports, arrival notifications and instructions from the competent Captain of the Port (COTP) or Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI). The master, Company and agent agree contact arrangements and make available documents, records and personnel able to demonstrate the actual condition safely.
At the end of the examination, distinguish the deficiencies in the Form B report, required actions and deadlines, and any orders or restrictions. The Company organises rectification and submits the requested evidence; the Authority decides whether a follow-up examination is needed and whether restrictions may be removed. A repair declaration or QUALSHIP 21 status does not replace that decision.
Regulatory Reference
The legal basis exists and is written down. The US Coast Guard's power to inspect a foreign ship comes not from a Memorandum but from US federal law: 46 U.S.C. Chapter 33 on the inspection of foreign vessels, with § 3303 governing reciprocal acceptance of certificates issued by SOLAS parties, § 3711 on the Certificate of Compliance for foreign tank vessels within its scope, § 3316(c) on recognition of classification societies, and the Ports and Waterways Safety Act. On the regulatory side: 33 CFR Part 151 (MARPOL and ballast water), Parts 154-156 (pollution prevention during transfers), Part 160 (notice of arrival and Captain of the Port orders), Part 164 (navigation safety). Inspection policy sits in COMDTINST 16000.73, Marine Safety: Port State Control (September 2021).
The Conventions the US applies in PSC are SOLAS 74, MARPOL 73/78, the Load Lines Convention 1966, STCW, ILO Convention 147 and, for security, the ISPS Code through the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002.
The US has not ratified MLC 2006: NVIC 02-13 distinguishes voluntary compliance from US enforcement. For working and accommodation conditions check applicable US law and ILO 147. An MLC certificate may be reviewed as evidence without replacing US requirements; do not describe it as having no possible use. USCG NVIC 02-13 CH-1.
For ballast water check 33 CFR 151 Subpart D. IMO approval alone is not USCG type approval, but a BWMS is not the only permitted method: §151.2025 also provides options such as no discharge in US waters, US public-water-system water or delivery for treatment, each subject to conditions. Separately check any AMS, time limits, reporting and other applicable requirements. 33 CFR 151.2025.
QUALSHIP 21 follows CVC-WI-002(2), revised 14 January 2026. Incentives depend on vessel type: passenger vessels receive no reduction in PSC examinations. Three-year vessel enrollment and annual flag eligibility are distinct; renewal is not automatic. USCG CVC-WI-002(2).
The 14 January 2026 revision updates eligibility, programme exit and renewal; USCG has clarified that the new IMSAS/CAP criterion will be used to evaluate flags from the July 2027–June 2028 period, while the previous criteria remain for that evaluation in 2026–2027. Consult the complete instruction and confirm vessel status: QUALSHIP 21 and E-Zero recognition do not exempt a vessel from requirements or USCG inspection decisions.
COMDTINST 16000.73 is consulted in its September 2021 edition; legislative and regulatory references must be checked in the versions applicable to the call. NVIC 02-13 CH-1 is guidance on voluntary compliance, neither a ratified convention nor a standalone requirement. USCG — QUALSHIP 21 update of 4 May 2026.
Scope of Application
Foreign vessels calling in the United States, within the provisions applicable to the vessel, cargo, voyage and operations. Passenger-vessel examinations and the Certificates of Compliance relevant to tank vessels have specific scopes: check the programme with the competent OCMI/COTP.
For QUALSHIP 21 enrollment, the flag Administration must first be eligible; the individual vessel must then meet criteria, apply, be accepted/enrolled and maintain status. A flag's listing does not automatically enroll all its ships.
Procedure / How to Complete It
- Identify the call, vessel, cargo and operations; coordinate arrival notifications and OCMI/COTP contacts with the agent, checking applicable requirements and instructions.
- Assemble certificates, records and previous USCG reports; check validity, the ship’s condition and outstanding actions, including specific ballast and cargo requirements.
- Distinguish an eligible flag from a vessel accepted and enrolled in QUALSHIP 21; check the specific incentive in the current instructions, including the passenger-vessel limitation.
- After the examination read the deficiencies, actions, deadlines and orders: allocate rectification, submit evidence and obtain the response required from the Authority before treating a restriction as removed.
Practical Example
Example: before planning for QUALSHIP 21 incentives, the Company checks both current flag eligibility and acceptance/enrollment of the individual vessel. Only the enrolled vessel’s status supports the published incentives; USCG targeting remains multifactorial.
If a system has a deficiency at the same call, the master clarifies the report action and any operational restrictions with USCG. The Company arranges assistance and rectification evidence; it does not treat enrollment in the programme as clearance.
What Typically Goes Wrong
Common Mistakes Mistake Library
| Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Confusing an eligible flag with a QUALSHIP 21-enrolled vessel | Incentives or boarding expectations are applied when unavailable | Check the flag list and the vessel’s enrollment confirmation separately |
| Transferring Paris/Tokyo requirements to US calls | Specific US requirements may be omitted | Prepare under US law, ratified instruments and applicable USCG instructions |
What the PSCO Checks
Operational Tips
- The United States has not ratified MLC 2006 and USCG does not enforce it as an applicable convention.
- Prepare for U.S. calls under U.S. law and ratified instruments, including ILO 147 where relevant.
- An MLC certificate does not replace evidence required under those authorities; it may be viewed without becoming an MLC enforcement basis.
Preparation checklist
Educational checklist. This summary supports learning and preparation only. It does not replace the vessel’s approved procedures, manuals, statutory documents, company SMS, or applicable official requirements. Completing it demonstrates neither compliance nor readiness for an inspection: it shows that a list has been read, not that the ship is in order. Always verify the current documents carried on board.
- Flag eligibility and individual-vessel QUALSHIP 21 enrollment checked separately
- Statutory and class documentation ready to general PSC standards
- Specific USCG requirements for ship type/cargo checked before the port call
- Ship's compliance history actively monitored
- Advance notice periods and arrival notification coordinated with the local agent
FAQ
Related Topics
Certified substantive revision: 14 October 2026 · page fingerprint ec349ac70ce8