Inspections of foreign flagged ships in UK ports are undertaken by surveyors from the UK MCA. When a ship is found to be not in compliance with applicable convention requirements, a deficiency may be raised. If any of their deficiencies are so serious, they have to be rectified before departure, then the ship will be detained. All deficiencies should be rectified before departure.

In response to one of the recommendations of Lord Donaldson’s inquiry into the prevention of pollution from merchant shipping, and in compliance with the EU Directive on Port State Control (2009/16/EC as amended), the MCA publishes details of the foreign flagged vessels detained in UK ports each month.

The UK is part of a regional agreement on port state control known as the Paris MOU and information on all ships that are inspected is held centrally in an electronic database known as THETIS. This allows the ships with a high risk rating and poor detention records to be targeted for future inspection.

Ships detained in December 2020

  1. ESSENIYA: The Russian-flagged general cargo ship was detained on 8 December 2020 at Ipswich, after having been found with 28 deficiencies, with four grounds for detention. This vessel was released on 16th December 2020.
  2. ERDEK: The Panama-flagged oil/chemical tanker was detained on 8 December 2020 at Purfleet, after having been found with 24 deficiencies with one ground for detention. This vessel was released on 12th December 2020.
  3. AYRESS: The Dominica-flagged general cargo ship was detained on 10 December 2020 at Ayr, after having been found with 29 deficiencies with six ground for detention. This vessel was released on 23rd December 2020.
  4. SMARTA: The Liberian-flagged bulk carrier was detained on 22 December 2020 at Southampton, after having been found with 28 deficiencies with eight ground for detention. This vessel was released on 25 December 2020.

 

Detentions carried on from previous months

  1. SIRIUS 1: The Nigeria-flagged vessel was detained on 7 November at Southampton, found with 11 deficiencies with two grounds for detention. This vessel was still detained on 31st December 2020.
  2. SIRIUS 2: The Nigeria-flagged vessel was detained on 12 November at Southampton, after being found with 20 deficiencies with five grounds for detention. This vessel was still detained on 31st December 2020.
  3. PACIFIC DAWN: The Panama-flagged vessel was detained on 27 November 2020 at Hull, found with 22 deficiencies with one ground for detention. This vessel was released on 11th December 2020.
  4. LIVA GRETA: The Latvia-flagged 'Liva Greta' was detained on 11th January 2020 at Birkenhead, with nine deficiencies with two grounds for detention. This vessel was still detained on 31st December 2020.
  5. POSEIDON: The Iceland-flagged 'Poseidon' was detained on 19th July 2018 at Hull, with 10 deficiencies with two grounds for detention. This vessel was still detained on 31st December 2020.
  6. TECOIL POLARIS: The Russian-flagged 'Tecoil Polaris' was detained on 6th June 2018 at Immingham, after found with 27 deficiencies with eight grounds for detention. This vessel was still detained on 31st December 2020.
  7. CIEN PORCIENTO: The unregistered 'Cien Porciento' was detained on 4 March 2010 with 30 deficiencies, including seven grounds for detention. This vessel was still detained on 31st December 2020.