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SPAIN: TOUGH POLICY AGAINST VESSELS LACKING THE NECESSARY CERTIFICATES ON BOARD AND AGAINST POLLUTERS.

LACK OF CERTIFICATES. In our Circular 4A/2003 we informed about stricter port inspections of 30% of vessels calling to Spanish ports under the Paris Memorandum. We also informed that in these MOU inspections if any deficiencies were found and either not rectified or understood to be severe deficiencies, the vessel could not only be inmobilised under the PSC Inspection Procedure, but also be detained by the Harbour Master under our Ports Law as a precautionary measure in a sanctioning procedure against the owners and the Master to secure payment of the possible sanction and a minimum guarantee of Euros 30,050 be requested to release the vessel.

Last month, a bulk carrier with logs on board was inspected in the port of La Coruña by the PSC Inspector. All the vessel´s certificates were checked and as the vessel was found to be lacking the ISPS necessary certificate, she was inmobilised. Following negotiations with the HM Inspector, the vessel was given three days to provide the certificate. The ISPS certificate was received by fax and presented to the HM who then agreed to the vessel’s departure. Commencement of a sanctioning procedure against the owners and Master of the vessel and the request for a guarantee of Euro 30,050, were luckily avoided.

If a vessel calling to a Spanish port without the necessary original Certifcates on board is immobilised under the PSC  Inspection