Procedures for Port State Control, 2025 - 2026 Edition

09.07.2026

Procedures for Port State Control, 2025 - 2026 Edition
Published Date: June 2026
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The Procedures for Port State Control, 2025, adopted by the IMO as Resolution A.1206(34), shifted the inspection focus away from purely certificate-based checks toward a system-based assessment.

The updated procedures mandate system evaluations, operational records, environmental compliance, and security implementation, and they replace the 2023 edition.

Port State control inspections contribute to ensuring that global maritime standards are being implemented consistently on all ships. This publication provides guidance for port State control officers on the conduct of inspections to support harmonization in the way inspections are carried out worldwide.

This edition includes amendments to Guidelines for the detention of ships (appendix 2) and new Guidelines for port State control officers on security aspects (appendix 20).