RISK4SEA is pleased to unveil the inaugural issue of the Top 40 Most Challenging Ports, providing crucial insights into Port State Control (PSC) performance across four key fleet segments: Bulkers, Tankers, Containers, and General Cargo.
The January 2025 edition of this comprehensive list identifies the most challenging ports worldwide, categorized by fleet segment and size, based on PSC data from the last 36 months. This initiative follows the successful release of the PSC Top 10 Performers and PSC Resilient 50 lists last month, further advancing RISK4SEA’s mission to enhance transparency and efficiency in maritime safety and compliance.
At RISK4SEA, we provide actionable PSC intelligence to illuminate Port State Control (PSC) performance and support the journey toward sustainable shipping. With a focus on real-world data, we are excited to introduce this initiative, helping industry stakeholders navigate port-related challenges with data-driven decision-making.
…said Apo Belokas, Founder & CEO of RISK4SEA.
Key insights & methodology
The Top 40 Most Challenging Ports list is derived from a robust PSC Benchmarking Methodology, which defines a port as “challenging” based on its performance in:
- Deficiency Per Inspection (DPI) – The average number of deficiencies per inspection.
- Detention Rate (DER) – The percentage of detained ships per 100 inspections.
- Detainable Deficiency Areas – The number of areas where detainable deficiencies have been recorded.
Data collection & analysis
RISK4SEA leverages a team of analysts, third-party vendors, and experts to collect, evaluate, and validate PSC data. The PSC performance metrics are assigned to ports, countries, ship managers, classification societies, and flags at the time of inspection. Ports with a minimum of 30 PSC inspections within the past 36 months per ship segment were included in the ranking, ensuring a comprehensive and reliable dataset.
The following countries have been excluded from the analysis due to data availability and regulatory restrictions: Angola, Bahrain, Brunei, Costa Rica, French Polynesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Nicaragua, North Korea, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian ports banned by Paris MoU, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Taiwan, and UAE.
Comprehensive port data insights
For each port listed, RISK4SEA provides detailed segment-specific insights, including:
- Number of PSC Inspections
- Number of Deficiencies Recorded
- Number of Detentions
- Breakdown of Deficiency Areas (80% & 100% of total deficiencies)
- Number of Detainable Deficiency Areas
- Deficiency Per Inspection (DPI) Score
- Detention Rate (DER) Score
Each port’s overall SCORE is determined by deviations from the benchmarked fleet segment values for DPI, DER, and detainable deficiency areas.
RISK4SEA is a leading maritime intelligence platform providing cutting-edge analytics and insights on Port State Control (PSC) performance. By leveraging data-driven methodologies, RISK4SEA empowers ship operators, port authorities, and maritime stakeholders with actionable intelligence to enhance compliance, safety, and operational efficiency.
Access the full report
For further details and to access the full Top 40 Most Challenging Ports list, visit RISK4SEA’s website.
