The Unsung Heroes of Maritime Safety: Why Port State Control Inspectors Deserve Our Support

By Andrew Mwangura

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

In the global shipping industry – where massive vessels carrying everything from crude oil to consumer electronics traverse our oceans – a small, specialized group of professionals stands as the last line of defense against maritime disaster.

Port State Control (PSC) inspectors are the guardians who determine whether the ships entering our waters meet international safety standards.

Yet despite their crucial role, these professionals remain understaffed, under resourced, and underappreciated.

Critical Gatekeepers

At the Port of Mombasa, East Africa’s largest and most vital maritime gateway, an alarming reality exists: only three qualified Port State Control inspectors shoulder the enormous responsibility of examining hundreds of foreign vessels each year.

These few skilled professionals must identify dangerous deficiencies that could lead to catastrophic accidents – from oil spills to capsizing vessels – that would devastate local environments and economies.

While sixteen trainee inspectors are currently undergoing preparation, this severe understaffing represents an immediate maritime safety crisis for a port of Mombasa’s strategic importance.

When we casually speak of “substandard shipping,” we’re talking about very real dangers: vessels with defective firefighting systems, inadequate lifesaving equipment, structural weaknesses, or crews working in unsafe conditions.

Without rigorous inspection, these floating hazards would freely enter our waters, endangering lives, marine ecosystems, and coastal communities.

The situation at Mombasa exemplifies a global problem. From Rotterdam to Singapore, from Santos to Long Beach, port state control regimes face similar challenges.

What separates safe ports from dangerous ones is often simply the number and quality of their inspectors.

High Cost of Understaffing

The chronic understaffing of PSC departments represents one of the most dangerous false economies in maritime governance.

Doubling Mombasa’s inspection force would cost a fraction of what a single major maritime disaster would inflict on Kenya’s economy. Yet budget constraints continually limit inspector numbers worldwide, with predictable consequences.

When the _MV_ _Wakashio_ ran aground off Mauritius in 2020, spilling over 1,000 tons of fuel oil into pristine marine habitats, the environmental and economic damage was estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars. 

The vessel had numerous deficiencies that proper inspection might have identified before disaster struck. 

How many such incidents must occur before we recognize that robust inspection regimes are not expenses but investments?

At Mombasa, where merely three qualified inspectors handle vessel traffic that should require at least 30-35 qualified professionals, the mathematics of risk becomes frighteningly clear.

This represents a 90% shortfall in inspection capacity. While the sixteen trainees currently in the pipeline offer hope for future improvement, they cannot yet conduct independent inspections of the complex systems aboard modern vessels. 

Each missing inspector multiplies the probability that dangerous vessels will slip through undetected, creating an unacceptable level of risk for Kenya’s premier port.

Human Element and Training Challenge

What makes an effective Port State Control inspector goes far beyond technical knowledge? These professionals must possess remarkable personal qualities – integrity that resists corruption attempts, diplomatic skills to handle international crews and owners, decisive judgment when lives and environments hang in the balance, and courage to stand firm when economic or political pressures mount.

The sixteen trainees currently preparing to join Mombasa’s inspection force represent a critical investment in the future, but the training process cannot be rushed.

PSC inspectors typically require years of maritime experience followed by specialized training and mentorship before they can effectively identify the complex deficiencies that make vessels unsafe.

With only three qualified inspectors available to mentor these trainees while simultaneously fulfilling their inspection duties, the development pipeline itself is strained to breaking point.

When an inspector at Mombasa detains a vessel despite pressure from powerful shipping interests or government officials concerned about port efficiency metrics, they demonstrate a commitment to public safety that deserves our highest respect.

These acts of professional integrity happen daily around the world, often without recognition.

The inspector who discovers serious deficiencies in a Kenya Ferry Services vessel and insists on repairs before allowing it to transport thousands of commuters across the Likoni Channel is not creating an inconvenience – they are potentially saving hundreds of lives.

Yet too often, these professionals face criticism rather than commendation for doing their jobs correctly.

Global Challenge Require Global Solutions

The inequality in port state control effectiveness creates dangerous imbalances in the global maritime safety net.

Substandard vessels deliberately seek out ports with weaker inspection regimes – a practice known as “port shopping” – creating a race to the bottom that endangers everyone.

Regional agreements like the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding (IOMOU) represent important steps toward harmonization, but vast disparities remain. 

Advanced maritime nations must recognize that supporting inspection capacity in developing port states is not charity but self-interest.

A vessel that passes through an understaffed port like Mombasa today may dock in Hamburg or Los Angeles tomorrow.

International organizations and developed maritime nations should establish robust funding mechanisms specifically for training and supporting PSC inspectors in regions where resources are constrained.

The cost would be minimal compared to the benefits of a truly global safety net with no weak links.

Investment in Our Collective Future

As global shipping continues to grow in volume and complexity, with ever-larger vessels and new technologies like autonomous ships on the horizon, the need for skilled inspectors will only increase.

Climate change further compounds these challenges, with more frequent extreme weather events testing vessel safety systems to their limits.

The time has come to recognize Port State Control inspection as a critical profession deserving of investment, prestige, and support commensurate with its importance.

At Mombasa and ports worldwide, every additional qualified inspector represents insurance against disaster and a commitment to responsible maritime governance.

When we fail to provide adequate resources for port state control, we are not simply accepting administrative inefficiency – we are gambling with human lives, marine ecosystems, and economic stability.

The next time budget decisions are made regarding maritime safety, we should remember that the cost of prevention is always lower than the cost of disaster.

The dedicated professionals who inspect the world’s ships deserve not just our appreciation but our tangible support through proper staffing, competitive compensation, ongoing training, and the political backing to enforce standards without interference.

Their work might not make headlines when all goes well, but their contribution to global safety and prosperity is immeasurable.

In the final analysis, strong port state control isn’t merely a technical requirement – it’s a moral imperative.

The question is not whether we can afford more inspectors at Mombasa and ports worldwide, but whether we can afford not to provide them.

The writer is a Maritime Affairs Analyst.