Lanka selected for international IORPSC committee chairmanship

For the first time Sri Lanka has been selected for the Chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Region Port State Control Committee for the next three years. South Africa, Australia and India chaired the previous committee.

Last committee was held in South Africa from August 13th to 16th and States represented were Austria, Australia, India, Iran, Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa. Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Yemen.

Abuja Memorandum of Underrating Equasis, ILO, IMO, at USCG attended as observers. Sri Lankan representative, Deputy Director General Merchant Shipping Division of Ministry of Ports and Aviation A. R. M. Abeyratne Banda, chaired last committee meeting.

The Port State Control System (PSCS) aims to verify whether foreign flag vessels calling at a Port of a State, comply with applicable international maritime conventions.

When vessels are found not be in substantial compliance with applicable laws or relevant convention requirements the PSCS imposes actions to ensure that they are brought into compliance.

Ships to be inspected are selected on the basis of criteria outline in the MoU and a non-discriminatory policies observed.

Under the MoU, each authority will establish and maintain an effective system of PSCA. The ultimate goal is to identify and eliminate substandard ships from the region.