In the year 1982 the Netherlands took the initiative to create a structured system of ‘Port State Controls’. 14 European countries signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ in which they put it upon themselves to check 25% of all foreign flagged vessels in their ports. Safety items, certificates, oil- and waste disposal administration, radio equipment and safe navigation are subject to thorough checks by local authorities. The Dutch fleet now itself is recently being checked more than before. On the list of flag states the fleet has descended to the 16th position on the list, mainly caused by shortcomings in certificates and faults in compliance to the ISPS (security) and ISM (safety) Code. Results that will count for the next three years. (Source: NVKK, ISSN: 1571-9111)
Yesterday the Stad Amsterdam was visited by Port State Control in Lisbon for the third time in a row, fortunately no deficiencies were found. Let’s hope that in three years time the Dutch fleet has recovered itself and that the initiator of this treaty can live up to the expectations that come with being a modern seagoing nation.

Cosmo Wassenaar
Captain Stad Amsterdam