Survitec warns shipowners and operators that Port State Control (PSC) detentions are becoming an increasingly predictable operational risk to global fleets, largely due to deficiencies in safety systems, maintenance standards and procedures on board ships.
In a recent report titled “Detentions at Ports: Costs and Impacts of an Aging Fleet – and How to Avoid Them,” the Survival Technology solutions provider reveals that PSC detentions increasingly stem from visible, predictable and often preventable deficiencies.
“Detention is increasingly becoming part of the operating environment for many fleets, and even the shortest detention period can quickly escalate into six-figure costs once off-lease exposure, berth costs, emergency repairs, schedule disruption, insurance impacts and reputational damage are taken into account,” said Mitkel Johannes, Chief Portfolio Officer at Survitec.
“The commercial reality is simple,” Johannes added. “Proactive annual inspections and lifecycle planning significantly reduce the risk of costly compliance failure and operational disruption. Investing in prevention is materially cheaper than absorbing even a single detention.”
These findings come at a time when global inspection volumes have remained broadly stable at around 75,000 per year, while detention outcomes have deteriorated significantly. Detentions under the Tokyo MOU have doubled over the past five years, and the Black Sea MOU has the highest rates of detentions compared to inspections, partly due to older tonnage concentration.
As fleets continue to age and pressure increases due to tight budgets, extended maintenance windows, and reduced crew capacity, more ships are entering inspections in a compromised condition, particularly for safety-critical systems, which greatly increases the likelihood of detention.
Many of the deficiencies identified are not simply compliance issues but relate directly to the operational readiness of fire safety and life saving systems, raising concerns about the ship’s ability to respond effectively in emergency situations.
As shipowners increasingly extend ship life cycles amid geopolitical instability, shipyard constraints, uncertainty about future fuels, and ongoing trade disruption, all of which contribute to an older global fleet operating under greater technical and regulatory pressure.
The white paper is based on a series of on-board inspection case studies from real-life safety assessments carried out by Survitec technicians, highlighting a range of risks affecting critical firefighting and life-saving equipment. These results indicate hidden internal failures and obvious defects in the system that can affect performance in emergency situations. Issues identified include deterioration of firefighting systems, the impact of poor maintenance practices, and deterioration of portable safety equipment. The paper also highlights concerns regarding lifeboat systems, where environmental exposure and inadequate maintenance can compromise the reliability of safety systems and equipment.
“As the case studies show, these types of failures rarely occur isolated or suddenly, and highlight the crucial role of stringent standards-based inspection systems in identifying hidden risks before they escalate,” said Jan Oscar Lied, Director of Technical Sales and Support at Survitec. “The challenge for many operators is to keep up with increasingly complex and rapidly changing regulations that vary by ship type, flag, class and equipment, while continuing to meet the demands of daily business operations.”
“Against this background, the critical question is not simply why accidents occur, but how ship condition, maintenance discipline and emergency preparedness affect the severity of an accident.
“Operators must ensure safety-critical equipment operates when it matters to reduce risks, avoid costly breakdowns, and ultimately protect lives,” Johannes added.
Source: Written by Metkel Johannes, Chief Portfolio Officer at Survitec
