Port State Control in 2025
Six takeaways for your fleet
More inspections, fewer detentions
AMSA grew PSC inspections 22.3% to 2,768 and lifted coverage of eligible ships to 42%, while the detention rate fell to 4.8%, below the 5.7% ten-year average.
Deficiency density is rising
Average deficiencies per inspection climbed to 2.73, above the 2.29 ten-year average, indicating more findings per visit even as detentions eased.
Bulk carriers dominate the workload
Bulk carriers accounted for 58% of inspections and 51.8% of arrivals, with deficiency density of 2.84 sitting above the fleet average.
Container ships are the watch item
Container ships posted 3.42 deficiencies per inspection, the highest of any major type, with a detention rate rising to 5.9% and above-average results in every category.
Safety management drives detainable findings
ISM accounted for 26.7% of detainable deficiencies, the single largest share, ahead of watertight integrity at 17.1% and lifesaving appliances at 14.1%.
Flag and class selection moves the needle
Detention rates ranged from 3.5% for Hong Kong to 7.7% for Malta, and from 3.7% for KRS to 7.3% for RINA, making flag and recognised organisation choice a direct risk lever.
Bulk carriers and container ships
Bulk carriers
51.8% of all Australian port arrivals · 58% of all PSC inspectionsBulk carriers are the most inspected foreign-flagged ship in Australia, with 1,604 PSC inspections in 2025, or 58% of the total. The detention rate improved to 5.3% from 6.8%, but deficiency density remains above the fleet average at 2.84 per inspection, with structural and equipment items dominating the findings.
Deficiency mix by category
4,563 deficiencies in 2025 · hover a segment
- Structural / equipment2,44553.6%
- Operational50711.1%
- Human factor65814.4%
- ISM (safety mgmt)2345.1%
- MLC (living & working)71915.8%
PSC inspections, 2021 to 2025
How often AMSA boards this ship type · hover a point
Deficiencies per inspection, by category
Bars over the gold line are above the fleet category average
Deficiencies and detainable deficiencies
What actually holds a ship in port
Share of all 187 detainable deficiencies in 2025. ISM leads. Gold marks categories rising on 2024.
Deficiency rate by category, 2024 to 2025
Per inspection across the whole foreign fleet. Four of five categories rose.
Detention risk by ship type and targeting tier
Detention rate by ship type
2025, with container ships and bulk carriers highlighted. Figures show detentions over inspections.
Detention rate rises with AMSA's risk tier
A detention pushes a ship toward RC1 and roughly doubles its future inspection odds.
RC1 ships are detained at 6.6% against 3.1% for the lowest tiers. Foreign ships are eligible for inspection every six months, so a high-risk profile compounds for years.
Inspection hotspots
Top 12 ports by PSC inspections (2025)
The bulk export and container hubs dominate. Hover a bar for the count.
By state and territory
WA, QLD and NSW account for over 80% of national PSC activity.
Flag state and class society performance
| Flag state↕ | Inspections▼ | Detentions↕ | Detention rate↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberia | 500 | 20 | 4.0% |
| Panama | 498 | 28 | 5.6% |
| Marshall Islands | 372 | 17 | 4.6% |
| Hong Kong, China | 259 | 9 | 3.5% |
| Singapore | 240 | 12 | 5.0% |
| Malta | 117 | 9 | 7.7% |
| Bahamas | 111 | 2 | 1.8% |
| Cyprus | 88 | 5 | 5.7% |
| Portugal | 78 | 6 | 7.7% |
| Japan | 67 | 5 | 7.5% |
| Norway | 57 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Greece | 56 | 1 | 1.8% |
| Isle of Man | 52 | 2 | 3.8% |
| China | 40 | 1 | 1.3% |
| Antigua & Barbuda | 28 | 2 | 7.1% |
| Netherlands | 26 | 3 | 11.5% |
| United Kingdom | 23 | 3 | 13.0% |
| Denmark | 20 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Korea (Rep. of) | 20 | 0 | 0.0% |
Detention rate is detentions divided by inspections for each flag administration. Values to the right of the gold marker sit above the fleet average.
How to read this
Detention rate is detentions divided by inspections. A red bar is above the 4.8% fleet average; a navy bar is below it. Click a column heading to sort.
High-performing operators
High-performer list: 28 operators
Recognised by AMSA for at least 10 inspections, zero detentions, and a deficiency rate at or below 1.91. Click any column header to sort.
| Operator (ISM company)↕ | Inspections↕ | Def. rate (ceiling 1.91)▲ |
|---|---|---|
| COSCO Shipping Bulk Co Ltd | 13 | 0.15 |
| Eastern Pacific Shipping Pte Ltd | 24 | 0.54 |
| Dorval Ship Management KK | 18 | 0.56 |
| Anglo-Eastern (Antwerp) NV | 11 | 0.64 |
| Fleet Ship Management Pte Ltd | 13 | 0.69 |
| Anglo-Eastern Maritime Services Pte Ltd | 10 | 0.70 |
| Hoegh Autoliners Management AS | 10 | 0.70 |
| Scorpio Marine Management (India) Pvt Ltd | 15 | 0.80 |
| Maran Dry Management Inc | 22 | 0.82 |
| Wilhelmsen Ship Management AS | 11 | 0.82 |
| COSCO Shipping Tanker (Dalian) Co Ltd | 19 | 0.84 |
| MOL Ship Management Singapore Pte Ltd | 10 | 1.00 |
| Livestock Express BV | 17 | 1.12 |
| Nanjing Tanker Corp | 11 | 1.18 |
| Safe Bulkers Management Ltd | 11 | 1.36 |
| Taurus Shipping Pte Ltd | 12 | 1.42 |
| Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd (OOCL) | 21 | 1.43 |
| Santoku Senpaku Co Ltd | 13 | 1.46 |
| Ocean Longevity Shipping & Management Co Ltd | 17 | 1.53 |
| Spica Marine Ltd SA | 17 | 1.53 |
| Berge Bulk Maritime Pte Ltd | 27 | 1.59 |
| Wilhelmsen Shipmanagement Sdn Bhd | 13 | 1.62 |
| Fleet Management Ltd | 46 | 1.70 |
| Zodiac Maritime Ltd | 21 | 1.71 |
| Klaveness Ship Management AS | 15 | 1.73 |
| H-Line Shipping Co Ltd | 12 | 1.75 |
| Neda Maritime Agency Co Ltd | 12 | 1.75 |
| Stamco Ship Management Co Ltd | 12 | 1.83 |
The target for your fleet
Three thresholds put an operator on AMSA's published high-performer list. Tracking each managed ship against them shows drift before AMSA does.
- 10+PSC inspections in the yearSmaller samples are not statistically meaningful.
- 0Detentions across the yearA single detention removes eligibility.
- ≤ 1.91Deficiencies per inspection70% of the 2.73 fleet average.
0 refusal-of-access directions were issued in 2025, the result of broad-based compliance and a co-operative, targeted approach by AMSA.
Considerations for review
These are points for your team to review and check against your own fleet and operations. They are not instructions. The suggested priority just shows where the 2025 data is strongest.
- 1
Check that ISM and SMS are followed in daily work
HighISM caused 26.7% of detainable deficiencies in 2025. Before Australian calls, make sure planned maintenance is up to date and that the safety management system (SMS) is clearly shown in drills and records.
- 2
Pay extra attention to the container fleet
HighContainer ships got worse in 2025: a 5.9% detention rate and 3.42 deficiencies per inspection, above average in every category. It is worth checking their condition before port calls.
- 3
Check the rising detention causes before arrival
HighWater and weathertight items (17.1%), lifesaving appliances (14.1%) and fire safety (13.4%) are increasing. Checking these before arrival can lower the risk of detention.
- 4
Set your own deficiency-rate target
HighAMSA's high-performer list recognises operators with zero detentions and no more than 1.91 deficiencies per inspection (70% of the 2.73 fleet average). Setting the same limit for your own fleet gives your team a clear goal, and meeting it puts you on that list.
- 5
Keep bulk carriers inspection-ready
MediumBulk carriers are 58% of all PSC inspections, more than any other ship type. Because they are inspected so often, keeping them well maintained and ready before each call lowers the chance of finding deficiencies and being detained.
- 6
Prepare more for the busiest ports
MediumWA, QLD and NSW have the most inspections, led by Newcastle, Brisbane, Port Hedland and Fremantle. Careful checks before arriving at these ports can help.
- 7
Try to avoid the first detention
MediumOne detention raises a ship's risk level for up to two years, which means AMSA inspects it more often (RC1 ships are detained at 6.6%, against 3.1% for RC4 and RC5). Clearing deficiencies promptly, and not repeating the same ones, keeps the risk level lower.
- 8
Watch your two-year company detention rate
LowAMSA looks at each company's performance over the last two years. If any of your companies gets near 1.5 times the average detention rate, it is wise to contact AMSA early.
- 9
Keep records of all repairs
LowAMSA may detain a ship if it has to return later to check that a serious problem was repaired. If you keep clear records showing the repair is done, the inspector can confirm it during the same inspection, so the ship is not detained.