Safety · 4 minute read
Common PSC deficiencies you should know
Fire, lifeboats, rest hours, and records. Officers who know the usual findings help the ship stay out of trouble.
Video slot
Record a 3–5 minute clip on your phone when you have signal. Upload to YouTube and we will embed it here. Script is below.
Port State Control does not hunt for trivia. It hunts for fire, abandonment, pollution, and fake records. Know the equipment you actually use on watch.
Fire dampers, hydrants, and EEBD locations are checked often. If you are a junior officer, walk the deck with the 2/O or 3/O and learn what “operational” looks like.
Lifeboat and life raft servicing dates, embarkation ladders, and immersion suits are classic findings. Do not wait for the Captain to notice a tag that expired last month.
Rest hours and oil record books are paper, but they are treated as safety. A mismatch between reality and the form is worse than an honest delay.
Phone-video script for the Captain
Walk through four items: fire dampers, lifeboat inventory, rest-hour records, and garbage log. Keep it practical, not legalistic.