Activity 3 - PSC

The need to join efforts to improve the working and effectiveness of the Mediterranean MoU (MED MoU) has been on several occasions expressed by all parties concerned about safe shipping in the Mediterranean area.
Commitments made in 2005 within Mrs. de Palacio’s High Level Group and within the REMPEC strategy, as well as those made on the occasion of the first joint working session of the Black Sea and Mediterranean Memoranda of Understanding on Port State Control in Istanbul Turkey on 20 April 2006 underpin the willingness of the beneficiaries to cooperate in an exercise strengthening the port state control regime in the Mediterranean.
Co-operation with Paris MoU and in particular using the valuable expertise available within this MoU will be promoted. Due account has to be taken of important developments on port state control in the EU, in particular with regard the development of a new inspection regime (NIR) and a new information system (NIS). It might be expected that both will be put in place in 2011. The new inspection approach intends to reward low-risk ships.

To better catch substandard shipping in the Mediterranean this activity aims to promote more targeted inspection in the non EU MED ports and to improve the qualification of the MED MoU inspectors, and if possible, to pave the way for an improved provision of inspection data to the  Administrative Centre of the MoU and to promote the reliance upon accurate EU inspection data.
The specific tasks identified under this activity are based on the findings and recommendations stemming from the 2005 Study “MED MoU on port State control - Actions towards effectiveness and alignment with the Paris MoU standards”, further called MED MoU diagnosis. They also aim to promote a MED MoU regime compatible with the EU regime, taking account that today two of the MED MoU members have responsibilities and obligations under the Paris MoU.
This activity will be implemented in close co-operation with the MED MoU Committee, the EC, and EMSA.

Task 3.1 Presentation of the SafeMed II activities to the MED MoU in co-operation with EC/EMSA

 This task aimed to intervene in co-operation with the EC during the MED MoU Committee on Port State Control in order to inform the MED MoU members about the scope of Activity 3 and to obtain the support from the Committee to work jointly for the realisation of the objectives pursued with this Activity.

Task 3.2 Updating available information and additional fact-finding on PSC activities
This task aims to update the information provided by the MED MoU diagnosis made in 2005. The updated diagnosis will be submitted for consideration for information to the beneficiaries and the EC and for consideration to the  MED MoU Committee.

Task 3.3 Establishment of required profile of MED PSC inspectors (basic and expected qualification)
This task aims to establish a temporary minimum profile (qualifications) for the PSC inspectors of the MED MoU as well as an “increased” profile with expected qualifications (based on education, training and expertise) to be achieved in the medium term.

Task 3.4 Update of the MED manual on PSC procedures
This task aims to prepare a draft for a revised manual of procedures intending to improve the detection of substandard ships.

Task 3.5 Improvement of data exchange between the beneficiaries and the MED MoU Info Centre

This task is merged with Task 3.7

Task 3.6 Development of a training programme on PSC procedures for MED PSC inspectors and training of PSC inspectors
This task relies upon the training expertise of EMSA. The implementation of this training programme will be commensurate to the PSC responsibilities of the beneficiaries. In order to reach a maximum of inspectors, two kinds of training programmes will be implemented: a three days training seminar and a one week national training course for these beneficiaries who have also benefited from a twinning project.

Task 3.7 Upgrading of the MED MoU PSC info Centre and possible connection with EU PSC database
Taking account of the setting up of the New Information System of the Paris MoU, which should be operational in 2011 this activity aims to identify the possible needs (personnel/equipment) to upgrade the MED MoU info centre in order to allow it to exchange data.