Press release

Foreign flagged ships under detention in the UK during October 2015

Seven foreign flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during October 2015 after failing Port State Control (PSC) inspections.

S and I

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced today (20 November 2015) that 7 foreign flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during October 2015 after failing Port State Control (PSC) inspection.

During October, there were 4 new detentions of foreign flagged vessels in a UK port. Two vessels remained under detention from previous months and 5 vessels were released during October. A total of 2 vessels remain under detention at the end of October.

In response to one of the recommendations of Lord Donaldson’s Inquiry into the prevention of pollution from merchant shipping and in compliance with the EU Directive on Port State Control (2009/16/EC as amended), the MCA publishes details of the foreign flagged vessels detained in UK ports each month.

The UK is part of a regional agreement on port state control known as the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MOU) and information on all ships that are inspected is held centrally in an electronic database known as Thetis. This allows the ships of flags with poor detention records to be targeted for future inspection.

Inspections of foreign flagged ships in UK ports are undertaken by surveyors from MCA. When a ship is found to be not in compliance with applicable Convention requirements, a deficiency may be raised. If the deficiency is so serious that it has to be rectified before departure, then the ship may be detained.

All deficiencies should be rectified before departure if at all possible.

When applicable, the list includes those passenger craft prevented from operating under the provisions of the EU Directive on Mandatory Surveys for the safe operation of regular Ro-Ro ferry and high speed passenger craft services (1999/35/EU).

Notes on the list of detentions

  • Full details of the ship. The accompanying detention list shows ship’s name, the flag state and the ship’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) number which is unchanging throughout the ship’s life and uniquely identifies it.
  • Company. The company shown in the vessel’s Safety Management Certificate (SMC) or if there is no SMC, then the party otherwise believed to be responsible for the safety of the ship at the time of inspection.
  • Classification Society. The list shows the Classification Society responsible for classing the ship only.
  • Recognised Organisation. Responsible for conducting the statutory surveys: and issuing statutory certificates on behalf of the Flag State
  • White (WL), Grey (GL) and Black lists (BL) are issued by the Paris MoU on 01 July each year and shows the performance of flag State.

Ships detained in October 2015

  • Date and Place of Detention: 21 October 2015, Liverpool
  • Vessel Name: EMSTAL
  • GT: 3823
  • IMO No: 9073086
  • Flag: Antigua & Bermuda
  • Company: Pasa International Technical Services Ltd
  • Classification Society: Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NKK)
  • Recognised Organisation: NKK
  • Recognised Organisation for ISM DOC: NKK
  • Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: NKK
  • Summary: nineteen deficiencies with two grounds for detention
Defective Item Nature of Defect Ground for Detention
01330 - Procedure for complaint under MLC,2006 Missing  
09232 - Cleanliness of engine room Insufficient  
07112 - Emergency Escape Breathing Device and disposition Not as required  
11117 - Lifebuoys incl. provision and disposition Not properly marked  
10106 - Compass correction log Not as required  
10111 - Charts Missing  
10135 - Monitoring of voyage or passage plan Not as required  
04108 - Muster list Lack of familiarity  
11131 - On board training and instructions Missing instructions  
04118 - Enclosed space entry and rescue drills Lack of training Y
01309 - Fire control plan - all Incomplete  
11118 - Lifejackets incl. provision and disposition Not as required  
11112 - Launching arrangements for survival craft Not as required  
07114 - Remote Means of control (opening, pumps, ventilation, etc.) Machinery spaces Not as required  
11105 - Rescue boat inventory Not as required  
07115 - Fire-dampers Not as required  
07106 - Fire detection and alarm system Not as required  
15150 - ISM Not as required Y
18425 - Access / structural features (ship) Damaged  

This vessel was released on the 27 October 2015


  • Date and Place of Detention: 21 October 2015, Tyne
  • Vessel Name: Antonia
  • GT: 2207
  • IMO No: 9238313
  • Flag: Liberia
  • Company: Bolten A
  • Classification Society: Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NKK)
  • Recognised Organisation: NKK
  • Recognised Organisation for ISM DOC: NKK
  • Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: NKK
  • Summary: sixteen deficiencies with one ground for detention
Defective Item Nature of Defect Ground for Detention
03102 - Freeboard marks Not readable  
07105 - Fire doors/openings in fire-resisting divisions Not as required  
07106 - Fire detection and alarm system Not as required  
10114 - Voyage data recorder (VDR) / Simplified Voyage data recorder (S-VDR) Inoperative  
10109 - Lights, shapes, sound-signals Inoperative  
04113 - Water level indicator Not as required  
07103 - Division - decks, bulkheads and penetrations Not as required  
18407 - Lighting (Working spaces) Inoperative  
07109 - Fixed fire extinguishing installation Not as required  
18418 - Winches & capstans Not as required  
18326 - Laundry, Adequate Locker Not as required  
07115 - Fire-dampers Missing  
11131 - On board training and instructions Not as required  
18425 - Access / structural features (ship) Not as required  
15150 - ISM Not as required Y
07199 - Other (fire safety) Other  

This vessel was released on the 23 October 2015


  • Date and Place of Detention: 27 October 2015, Aberdeen
  • Vessel Name: Olympic Canyon
  • GT: 4787
  • IMO No: 9340609
  • Flag: Norway
  • Company: Olympic Shipping
  • Classification Society: Det Norske Veritas–Germanischer Lloyd (DNV-GL)
  • Recognised Organisation: DNV-GL
  • Recognised Organisation for ISM DOC: DNV-GL
  • Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: DNV-GL
  • Summary: thirteen deficiencies with two grounds for detention
Defective Item Nature of Defect Ground for Detention
01199 - Other (certificates) Other  
10127 - Voyage or passage plan Lack of information  
10135 - Monitoring of voyage or passage plan Not as required  
01209 - Manning specified by the minimum safe manning doc Not as required  
01199 - Other (certificates) Other  
07105 - Fire doors/openings in fire-resisting divisions Unsafe  
05115 - Radio log (diary) Not as required  
10106 - Compass correction log Missing  
11131 - On board training and instructions Not as required  
18324 - Cold room, cold room cleanliness, cold room temperature Not as required Y
10199 - Other (navigation) Other  
10112 - Electronic charts (ECDIS) Not approved  
15150 - ISM Not as required Y

This vessel was released on the 28 October 2015


  • Date and Place of Detention: 27 October 2015, Tyne
  • Vessel Name: Rembrandt Van Rijn
  • GT: 308
  • IMO No: 8941808
  • Flag: Vanuatu
  • Company: Balder
  • Classification Society: Limdal Marine Services
  • Recognised Organisation: Limdal Marine Services
  • Recognised Organisation for ISM DOC: Limdal Marine Services
  • Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: Limdal Marine Services
  • Summary: sixteen deficiencies with one ground for detention
Defective Item Nature of Defect Ground for Detention
01220 - Seafarers’ employment agreement (SEA) Invalid  
01103 - Passenger Ship Safety (including exemption) Entries missing  
09235 - Fitness for duty - work and rest hours Work hours exceeded  
10127 - Voyage or passage plan Missing  
10111 - Charts Missing  
05115 - Radio log (diary) Not as required  
10114 - Voyage data recorder (VDR) / Simplified Voyage data recorder (S-VDR) Not as required  
18401 - Medical Equipment, medical chest, medical guide Expired  
07115 - Fire-dampers Not as required  
11117 - Lifebuoys incl. provision and disposition Not ready for use  
04103 - Emergency, lighting, batteries and switches Inoperative  
07105 - Fire doors/openings in fire-resisting divisions Not as required  
12101 - Stowage/segregation/packaging dangerous goods Not as required  
14102 - Retention of oil on board Full  
07106 - Fire detection and alarm system Not properly maintained  
15150 - ISM Not as required Y

This vessel was released on the 31 October 2015


Detentions carried over from previous months


  • Date and Place of Detention: 25 September 2015, Ipswich.
  • Vessel Name: NIHAL
  • GT: 3790
  • IMO No: 8918435
  • Flag: COOK ISLANDS (Black List)
  • Company: DMV Denizcilik Ltd
  • Classification Society: Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NKK)
  • Recognised Organisation: NKK / Cook Islands
  • Recognised Organisation for ISM DOC: Cook Islands
  • Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: Cook Islands
  • Summary: nineteen deficiencies with seven grounds for detention
Defective Item Nature of Defect Ground for Detention
10127 - Voyage or passage plan Missing Y
10116 - Nautical publications Not updated Y
05115 - Radio log (diary) Not as required  
05118 - Operation of GMDSS equipment Lack of familiarity  
11124 - Embarkation arrangement survival craft Not properly maintained Y
01308 - Records of seafarers’ daily hours of work or rest Incorrect entries  
01218 - Medical certificate Missing  
11124 - Embarkation arrangement survival craft Not properly maintained Y
04114 - Emergency source of power - Emergency generator Not as required Y
07106 - Fire detection and alarm system Inoperative Y
07118 - International shore-connection Not as required  
07105 - Fire doors/openings in fire-resisting divisions Not as required  
09233 - Guards - fencing around dangerous machinery parts Missing  
07199 - Other (fire safety) Other  
18407 - Lighting (Working spaces) Damaged  
02120 - Marking of IMO number Not as required  
02105 - Steering gear Not properly tested  
07116 - Ventilation (Machinery spaces) Not as required  
15150 - ISM Not as required Y

This vessel was released on the 1 October 2015.


  • Date and Place of Detention: 26 January 2015, Liverpool Dock, Liverpool.
  • Vessel Name: DORIS T
  • GT: 1973
  • IMO No: 7626748
  • Flag: ANTIGUA & BARBUDA (White List)
  • Company: Interscan Schiffahrt-SG Esillschaft, Hamburg.
  • Classification Society: Bureau Veritas (BV)
  • Recognised Organisation: BV / GL
  • Recognised Organisation for ISM DOC: GL
  • Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: BV
  • Summary: eighteen deficiencies with six grounds for detention
Defective Item Nature of Defect Ground for Detention
03108 - Ventilators, air pipes, casings Not properly maintained  
03108 - Ventilators, air pipes, casings Not properly maintained  
13108 - Operation of machinery Lack of familiarity  
11101 - Lifeboats Not properly maintained  
10111 - Charts Expired Y
10127 - Voyage or passage plan Not as required Y
11101 - Lifeboats Not properly maintained  
10199 - Other (navigation) Other  
01308 - Records of seafarers’ daily hours of work or rest Incorrect entries  
11117 - Lifebuoys incl. provision and disposition Not as required  
01138 - International Energy Efficiency Certificate Missing  
02111 - Beams, frames, floors-corrosion Corroded Y
02111 - Beams, frames, floors-corrosion Corroded Y
02113 - Hull - cracking Not as required Y
07109 - Fixed fire extinguishing installation Not as required  
18418 - Winches & capstans Not properly maintained  
15150 - ISM Not as required Y
01138 - International Energy Efficiency Certificate Missing  

This vessel was still detained on 31 October 2015.


  • Date and Place of detention: 4 March 2010, Lowestoft
  • Vessel Name: CIEN PORCIENTO (General Cargo)
  • GT: 106
  • IMO No: 8944446
  • Flag: Unregistered
  • Company: Open Window Inc
  • Classification Society: Unclassed
  • Recognised Organisation: Not applicable
  • Recognised Organisation for ISM DOC: Not applicable
  • Recognised Organisation for ISM SMC: Not applicable
  • Summary: Thirty deficiencies including seven grounds for detention

This vessel was still detained on 31 October 2015.


Notes to Editors

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Updates to this page

Published 20 November 2015