1. INTRODUCTION

The regime of port state control (PSC) was created more than 30 years ago (Kasoulides, 1993)2 and is defined by the IMO as “the inspection of foreign ships in national ports to verify that the condition of the ship and its equipment comply with the requirements of international regulations and that the ship is manned and operated in compliance with these rules”.3 These regulations are under the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (SOLAS), the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW), the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as amended (MARPOL), the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (Load Lines), and the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969 (Tonnage 69).