Ref. T4/8.01 MSC/Circ.1011
MEPC/Circ.383
26 June 2001
1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its seventy-fourth session (30 May to8 June 2001), and the MarineEnvironmentProtectionCommittee,atitsforty-sixth session (23 to 27 April 2001) considered a numberofrecommendationsmadebytheSub-CommitteeonFlagStateImplementation(FSI)onmeasures
to improve port State control procedures.
2 TheCommitteesagreedwiththerecommendationsoftheFSISub-Committeethatthewhole concept of port State control of ships will be significantly improved by:
.1 greaterendeavoursmadebyportStatestonotifyflagStatesofanydetentionsandrelease
ofthelatter'sshipsusingthesampleformfornotificationofdetentionofship(annex1)and thesampleformfornotificationofreleaseofship(annex2)inthemosttimelyandexpedient mannerpossible,making,tothiseffect,fulluseofmoderncommunicationfacilities,i.e.fax,
e-mail, etc.; and
.2 establishingamechanismforaconstructiveandtimelydialoguebetweenflagStatesand port States on port State control interventions through improved channels of communicationsbetweenportStatesandflagStates,particularlyincaseswhereflagStates are seeking additional information or clarifications regarding detentions.
3 In the context of port Statecontrolactivities,theCommitteesemphasizedthatportStatecontrolis not, and should not be allowed to become,a profit making enterprise.
4 MemberGovernmentsareinvitedtobringthiscirculartotheattentionofauthoritiescarryingoutport
State control activities advising them to bear the above in mind when discharging their responsibilities.
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