Ireland implements an effective port state control regime and the Port State Control Officers from my Department each year inspect approximately 400 foreign flagged ships. They detain any of these ships which have serious safety or environment related deficiencies. The inspections include enforcement of the provisions for living and working conditions.
Following recent assessment visits by the European Maritime Safety Agency, EMSA, the Commission found that Ireland needs to improve in some areas including the reporting of ship calls and inspections out-of-hours. The steps which I am taking to improve our system include enhancing Ireland's maritime single window web portal "SafeSeasIreland." This will facilitate the reporting of ship calls and the targeting of sub-standard ships. Considerable effort has gone into developing this system and informing the industry of the requirements, including industry seminars and individual workshops provided by the Marine Survey Office. In addition, as it may be necessary to carry out inspections at weekends, negotiations have started with the unions to provide for such cover. Moreover, as there is an obligation on the shipping industry to report ship movements, my Department has issued Marine Notice No. 13 of 2010 in this regard.
From the 1st of January 2011 a new port state control regime will be introduced called the New Inspection Regime. This will be supported by a new information system THETIS that will be integrated with SafeSeasIreland. This new regime will strengthen port state control and it will focus on sub-standard ships and the companies operating them. It will include the provisions of the appropriate International Labour Organization Conventions.