Key Points from the 2025 Annual Inspections Report
Rising inspections, evolving risks, and deeper insights into vessel performance—this report highlights how the maritime industry is improving compliance while still facing critical challenges in safety management, maintenance, and operational discipline. A closer look reveals where the real risks lie and what must be addressed to ensure safer and more resilient maritime operations.
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1. Increase in inspections with better targeting
- Port State Control inspections increased by over 22%
- Focus shifted toward higher-risk vessels using data-driven targeting
- Indicates improved inspection efficiency and prioritisation
2. Overall compliance improving, but critical risks remain
- Deficiencies per inspection reduced in some segments (notably DCVs)
- However, detainable deficiencies increased significantly (+41% in DCVs)
- Suggests fewer minor issues but more serious safety concerns
3. Safety Management System (SMS) remains a major concern
- ISM/SMS deficiencies are the leading cause of detentions
- Key issues:
- Poor implementation rather than lack of documentation
- Weak safety culture
- Maintenance failures
- Indicates a reactive rather than proactive approach to safety
4. Structural and equipment deficiencies dominate
- Most common deficiency category across all vessel types
- Reflects gaps in maintenance, vessel condition, and equipment reliability
5. Poor performing vessel types identified
- General cargo/multi-purpose ships: highest detention rates
- Container ships and oil/chemical tankers also underperform
- Indicates need for stricter oversight in these segments
6. Bulk carriers remain a key focus area
- Represent over half of inspections and arrivals
- Slightly above-average deficiency rates
- Continue to show room for improvement
7. Rise in human and operational deficiencies
- Increase in human factor-related issues
- Common problems include:
- Poor record-keeping
- Navigation and procedural lapses
- Highlights training and operational discipline gaps
8. Reduction in overall detention rates
- PSC detention rate dropped to 4.8%, below long-term average
- Reflects improved compliance and effective risk-based inspections
9. Mixed performance in domestic vessels (DCVs)
- General compliance improved
- However, serious deficiencies increased in:
- Safety management systems
- Fire safety
- Life-saving appliances
- Fishing and passenger vessels recorded higher deficiency rates
10. Safety culture is the key differentiator
- High-performing operators show:
- Low deficiency rates
- Zero detentions
- Poor performers show:
- Weak implementation of systems
- Reactive compliance behaviour
Conclusion
The industry shows measurable improvement in compliance and inspection efficiency. However, persistent issues in safety culture, maintenance practices, and SMS implementation continue to pose significant risks.
Credits: AMSA