Evidence on target factors used for port state control inspections

Target factors aim at setting criteria to select foreign vessels that should be inspected by port state control authorities. Although a relative consensus exists on the main factors to consider in selecting vessels, the weight to be given to these factors is still unclear. Using data on 26 515 PSC inspections that took place within the Indian Ocean MoU region from 2002 to 2006, we investigate the determinants of the number of deficiencies and of the probability of detention. Our results show that the main contributors to detention are the age of the vessel at inspection (40%), the recognised organization (31%) and the place where the inspection occurs (17%). Also, differences in detention rates amongst various inspecting authorities are essentially explained by differences in the characteristics of vessels calling in a specific country rather than by differences in the way inspections are done.