Evaluation of the influence of stricter sulphur limits within emission control area on port state control inspection

Abstract

This paper aims to identify if the regulation of stricter sulphur limits of 0.1% m/m within the emission control areas has an influence on the port state control inspection. Inspection records of 18 months before and after 1 January 2015 of 5 ports within and 5 ports outside the emission control areas are selected respectively as the sample data. The average deficiency number in a PSC inspection, average age of the inspected ships, ECA related deficiency rate and detention rate are selected as the inspection indicators. Three significant differences are found: (ⅰ) Ships calling the ports outside ECAs are of elder age than the ships calling the ports within ECAs; (ⅱ) ECA related deficiency rate is higher in the ports within the ECAs while is lower outside ECAs; (ⅲ) Ship detention rate in the ports outside ECAs is higher than that within the ECAs.