Aging fleet and growing safety deficiencies behind rise in costly PSD detentions

(Posted on 07/06/26)

Survitec is warning shipowners and operators that port state control (PSC) detentions are becoming an increasingly predictable operational risk for global fleets, driven largely by deficiencies in safety systems, maintenance standards and onboard procedures.

In a newly released white paper, In-port Detentions: The costs and implications for an ageing fleet – and how to avoid them, the Survival Technology solutions provider reveals that PSC detentions increasingly stem from deficiencies that are visible, foreseeable and often preventable.

Metkel Yohannes, Chief Portfolio Officer at Survitec, said, “Detention is increasingly becoming part of the operating environment for many fleets, and even the shortest detention can quickly escalate into six-figure costs once off-hire exposure, berth costs, emergency repairs, schedule disruption, insurance impacts and reputational damage are factored in.

“The commercial reality is simple,” Yohannes added. “Proactive annual inspections and lifecycle planning significantly reduce the risk of costly compliance failures and operational disruption. Investing in prevention is materially cheaper than absorbing even one detention.”

The findings come at a time when global inspection volumes have remained broadly stable at around 75,000 per year, while detention outcomes have worsened significantly. Detentions under the Tokyo MoU have more than doubled over the past five years, and the Black Sea MoU recorded the highest detention rates relative to inspections, driven in part by a concentration of older tonnage.

As fleets continue to age and pressure mounts from tighter budgets, stretched maintenance windows, and reduced crew capacity, more vessels are entering inspections in a compromised state, particularly for safety-critical systems, significantly increasing the likelihood of detention.

Many of the deficiencies identified are not simply compliance issues but relate directly to the operational readiness of fire safety and lifesaving systems, raising concerns about a vessel’s ability to respond effectively in an emergency.

As shipowners increasingly extend vessel lifecycles amid geopolitical instability, shipyard constraints, uncertainty around future fuels, and ongoing trade disruption, all of which are contributing to an older global fleet operating under greater technical and regulatory pressure.

The white paper draws on a series of onboard inspection case studies from real-world safety assessments by Survitec technicians, highlighting a range of risks affecting critical firefighting and lifesaving equipment. These findings point to both hidden internal failures and visible system defects that could compromise performance in an emergency. Issues identified include the degradation of firefighting systems, the impact of poor maintenance practices, and the deterioration of portable safety equipment. The paper also highlights concerns in lifeboat systems, where environmental exposure and inadequate maintenance can compromise the reliability of safety systems and equipment.

Jan-Oskar Lid, Technical Sales and Support Manager at Survitec, said, “As the case studies show, these types of failures rarely occur in isolation or suddenly and highlight the critical role of rigorous, standards-based inspection regimes in identifying hidden risks before they escalate. The challenge for many operators lies in keeping pace with increasingly complex, fast-changing regulations that vary by vessel type, flag, class, and equipment, while still meeting the demands of day-to-day commercial operations.

“Against this backdrop, the critical question is not simply why incidents occur, but how vessel condition, maintenance discipline and emergency readiness influence the severity of an incident.

Yohannes added, “Operators must ensure safety-critical equipment works when it counts to reducing risk, avoiding costly failures, and ultimately protecting lives.”

Latest News

Shipping takes major sustainable plastic step with toolkit from MACS

The Maritime Association for Clean Seas (MACS) has published a series of practical guides to enable... Read more

Shanghai climbs to second as Singapore retains top spot

Shanghai has officially become the world’s second-most prominent shipping hub, according to the... Read more

OceanScore sees growing port adoption of PortView

OceanScore, the maritime data and sustainability company helping shipping and ports turn regulatory... Read more

INTERCARGO highlights progress and priorities in bulk carrier safety

Bulk carrier safety continues to show steady long-term improvement, but the nature of risk facing seafarers... Read more

Norden raises full-year guidance following strong performance in dry cargo

Following stronger than expected operational performance in dry cargo, reduced costs associated with... Read more

Algoma announces refinancing of long-term debt

Algoma Central Corporation, a leading provider of marine transportation services, has announced that... Read more

Global maritime under threat from Fortibleed incident, warns Cydome

Major maritime, ports and energy companies have been identified by Cydome’s threat-intelligence... Read more

Crewing specialist expands global recruitment network with Indonesian seafarers

As the global shipping industry faces mounting concerns over future crew availability, Danica Crewing... Read more

IMO pauses evacuation in Strait of Hormuz following attack

Following an attack on a vessel in the Gulf of Oman, IMO has decided to temporarily pause its evacuation... Read more

Human cost of keeping world trade moving highlighted on Day of the Seafarer

Leading health and wellness platform OneCare Group is calling on shipping leaders to recognise the immense... Read more