With 425 detentions and 1,752 detainable deficiencies recorded in 2025 across the ClassNK fleet, the Port State Control Annual Report 2026 sends a clear message to shipping: PSC readiness depends on daily maintenance, crew familiarity and a living Safety Management System, not last-minute preparation.
ClassNK issued its Port State Control Annual Report in June 2026, providing an overview of PSC detention trends and detainable deficiencies identified on ClassNK-classed ships during 2025.
The report summarizes deficiencies identified during PSC inspections carried out in various countries and aims to build awareness of the current state of Port State Control, while supporting improvements in onboard maintenance, inspections and Safety Management Systems. It also outlines the measures adopted by ClassNK when notified of PSC deficiencies, including cooperation with port States, clarification of class and statutory requirements, review of PSC reports and follow-up through its quality management system.
The publication is particularly relevant for shipowners, ship managers, masters, chief engineers, superintendents, HSQE teams, flag States, Recognized Organizations and other maritime stakeholders involved in PSC readiness and compliance performance.
ClassNK PSC Annual Report 2026: At a glance
- Total detentions in 2025: 425
- Total detainable deficiencies in 2025: 1,752
- Most detained ship type: Bulk carriers (268)
- Highest detention ratio by ship type: Reefer carriers (10.9%)
- Highest detention ratio by age: Ships over 25 years old (16.2%)
- Top PSC authority by detentions: China (139)
- Tokyo MOU: 9,219 inspections / 249 detentions
- Paris MOU: 2,305 inspections / 91 detentions
- USCG: 2,156 inspections / 11 detentions
- Top deficiency category: Fire safety (426)
- Other key deficiency areas: Life-saving appliances (172), Emergency systems (169), ISM (159)
- Most frequent individual detainable item: ISM (105 cases)
Detentions and deficiencies in focus
According to the report, the number of ClassNK-classed ships of 500 GT or over increased to 8,948 in 2025, while the number of detentions rose to 425, compared with 381 in 2024 and 419 in 2023.
Bulk carriers accounted for the highest number of detentions, with 268 cases, followed by general cargo ships with 65 and oil/chemical tankers with 33. However, in terms of detention ratio, reefer carriers recorded the highest figure at 10.9%, followed by general cargo ships at 8.5% and bulk carriers at 6.3%.
Ship age remains a significant factor. Ships over 25 years old recorded the highest detention ratio, at 16.2%, with 96 detentions in 2025. Vessels over 20 and up to 25 years old followed with an 11.1% detention ratio. By contrast, ships up to five years old recorded a much lower detention ratio of 1.4%, although detentions in this youngest category increased from 10 in 2024 to 28 in 2025.
By PSC authority, within the ClassNK dataset, China accounted for the highest number of detentions, with 139 in 2025, followed by Australia with 44, Türkiye with 32, Russia with 28 and Canada with 21.
Looking at the major PSC regimes, ClassNK recorded 9,219 inspections and 249 detentions under the Tokyo MOU, 2,305 inspections and 91 detentions under the Paris MOU, and 2,156 inspections and 11 detentions by the USCG.
Fire safety remains the leading detainable deficiency area
In 2025, ClassNK recorded 1,752 detainable deficiencies in conjunction with the 425 detentions. Fire safety was the leading category, with 426 detainable deficiencies, followed by life-saving appliances with 172, emergency systems with 169, ISM with 159, safety of navigation with 136, and water/weathertight conditions with 119.
At individual item level, ISM was the most frequently reported detainable deficiency, with 105 cases. Other frequent items included fixed fire extinguishing installations, lifeboats, ventilators, air pipes and casings, fire doors and openings in fire-resisting divisions, fire pumps and pipes, fire detection and alarm systems, emergency fire pumps and fire drills.
The findings show that many PSC problems are not isolated technical defects. They often point to broader weaknesses in maintenance planning, testing, recordkeeping, crew familiarisation, emergency preparedness and ship-shore follow-up.
Why this report is important
Port State Control plays a key role in eliminating substandard ships and protecting maritime safety and the marine environment. ClassNK notes that PSC frameworks and inspection functions have been strengthened in recent years, while regional MOUs have promoted greater information sharing and more harmonized inspection standards and procedures.
At the same time, the scope of PSC has expanded beyond ship structure and equipment to include operational and maintenance practices, especially following the application of the ISM Code. With the increasing diversity of applicable regulations, the scope of PSC inspections continues to broaden year by year.
This makes the report important for two reasons. First, it provides a practical picture of where detentions are occurring and which deficiencies are repeatedly becoming detainable. Second, it reminds ship managers that PSC performance reflects the real condition of the vessel, the effectiveness of onboard maintenance, the quality of drills and the strength of the Safety Management System.
10 lessons to be learned from the ClassNK PSC Annual Report
- PSC readiness must be continuous
The increase in detentions from 381 in 2024 to 425 in 2025 confirms that PSC compliance cannot rely on short pre-arrival checks. Readiness must be built into daily maintenance, testing, housekeeping and documentation.
- Fire safety remains a critical weak point Fire safety was the largest detainable deficiency category.
Fire doors, fire dampers, fire pumps, fire detection systems, fixed fire extinguishing installations and remote means of control should remain priority areas for shipboard and shore teams.
- ISM findings should be treated as management signals
ISM was the most frequent individual detainable item. Such findings may indicate deeper gaps in supervision, corrective actions, internal audits, risk assessment, maintenance routines or communication between vessel and office.
- Older ships need stronger preventive attention Ships over 25 years old recorded the highest detention ratio.
Ageing vessels require tighter condition monitoring, stronger defect close-out, more frequent verification of critical systems and realistic maintenance planning.
- Life-saving appliances remain vulnerable to maintenance gaps
Lifeboats, rescue boats and launching arrangements continue to generate detainable findings. Common problems include engines failing to start, poor battery maintenance, inoperable on-load release gear, corrosion and crew unfamiliarity.
- Emergency preparedness must be demonstrated, not only documented
Emergency systems findings included inoperable emergency fire pumps, insufficient discharge pressure, emergency generators unable to start or connect, emergency lighting defects and crew unfamiliarity with procedures.
- Navigation compliance needs closer control
Safety of navigation findings included damaged lights, shapes and sound signals, VDR malfunctions, outdated charts and publications, missing voyage planning information and ECDIS-related issues.
- Water and weathertight integrity remains a visible PSC risk
Ventilators, air pipes, casings, hatch covers and doors were repeatedly identified. These are often visible defects that can quickly raise concerns over maintenance standards and vessel condition.
- MARPOL and machinery deficiencies still require operational focus
Oil filtering equipment, sewage treatment plants, incinerators, 15ppm alarm arrangements, auxiliary engines and leakage from machinery or piping remain areas where equipment condition and crew familiarity must be verified.
- Crew certification and employment documentation matter
Seafarers Employment Agreements were among the recurring detainable items, with issues including expired or unsuitable contracts, long periods onboard and inappropriate or unpaid wages. PSC inspections continue to examine labour and documentation compliance, not only technical condition.
Action plan for ship managers and maritime stakeholders
Ship managers should review fleet PSC performance against the ClassNK 2025 findings, with particular focus on fire safety, ISM performance, life-saving appliances, emergency systems, navigation, water/weathertight integrity, machinery condition and crew documentation.
Pre-arrival checks should be risk-based and vessel-specific. Each vessels age, trading area, inspection history, open defects, recent repairs, port trends and previous PSC findings should guide the scope of preparation.
Fire safety should receive immediate attention. Fire doors should close and latch properly, fire dampers should operate as intended, fire pumps should deliver adequate pressure, fire detection and alarm systems should be tested, and fixed fire extinguishing systems should be checked for corrosion, leaks and operational readiness.
Life-saving appliances should be verified through practical testing and crew familiarisation. Lifeboats and rescue boats should be able to start, batteries should be maintained, launching arrangements should be free from obstruction, and crew should be confident in their assigned duties.
Emergency systems should be treated as operational safeguards, not checklist items. Emergency generators, emergency fire pumps, emergency lighting, batteries and emergency drills should be tested regularly, with any weakness escalated and corrected before port arrival.
Navigation readiness should also be strengthened. Charts, ENC updates, nautical publications, voyage plans, VDR status, navigation lights and sound signals should be checked systematically, especially before calling at ports with strong PSC activity.
Older vessels require enhanced shore support. Technical teams should monitor corrosion, hatch covers, watertight doors, machinery leaks, tank valves and ESP documentation closely, ensuring that temporary repairs or deferred maintenance do not create detention exposure.
ISM-related findings should be investigated beyond the immediate deficiency. Companies should assess whether the root cause lies in planning, training, supervision, spare parts, reporting culture, internal audits or lack of timely shore-based support.
Crewing departments should verify that Seafarers Employment Agreements, certificates, medical documents and manning arrangements are valid, available onboard and aligned with applicable requirements.
Finally, PSC results should be shared across the fleet. Each inspection should feed into a structured learning process, helping vessels and shore departments identify recurring weaknesses, improve corrective actions and strengthen the Safety Management System.
Overall, the ClassNK PSC Annual Report 2026 reinforces a familiar but important message: strong PSC performance depends on continuous readiness. Reliable equipment, competent crews, accurate documentation, effective drills and proactive shore support remain essential to reduce deficiencies, detentions and reputational risk.
Download the report: ClassNK: PSC Annual Report 2026