PSC the official questionnaire for the 2026 Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on cargo securing is now available. The Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) from Paris and Tokyo published the document that will serve as the basis for Port State Control (PSC) inspections, which will take place between [dates missing in original text September 1st and November 30th, 2026. The initiative is the next stage of the campaign announced at the end of July and will allow inspectors to uniformly assess compliance with international requirements related to cargo securing.
PSC will verify ten aspects during the inspections
The official questionnaire consists of ten questions aimed at verifying compliance with cargo securing procedures, seven of them may be considered grounds for detaining the vessel when non-compliance is detected, while the questions 1, 6 y 10a/10b they will only result in deficiencies that do not imply the immobilization of the vessel.
The campaign will be integrated into the routine port State control inspections during the three months of its implementation. In this way, the authorities will apply the additional questionnaire along with the usual PSC inspection to verify that the lashing operations comply with the established requirements.
Security management will also be evaluated.
In addition to the physical condition of the lashing equipment, the inspections will pay special attention to the effectiveness of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code. Deficiencies related to cargo securing may reveal failures in operating procedures, crew training, supervision, or risk assessment.
Furthermore, when these deficiencies are recurrent or reflect systemic problems, the authorities may require reviews of management practices, root cause analyses, and the implementation of corrective actions. For the PSC, these types of non-compliance are considered particularly serious and can lead to operational delays, restrictions, or even the detention of the vessel. They could also result in more thorough inspections and additional monitoring of the ISM system.
Advance preparation to avoid deficiencies
Following the publication of the questionnaire, DNV he recommended that shipowners and operators familiarize the captain and officers with the contents of the ICC checklist and with the responsibilities they will need to demonstrate during inspections.
The organization also advises updating the Load Securing Manual (CSM) to reflect the types of cargo transported, current lashing configurations, and equipment available on board. Similarly, it recommends inspecting and maintaining all securing devices, replacing any that show damage or wear.
Likewise, it will be necessary to strengthen crew training to ensure knowledge of cargo securing procedures, including operations during adverse weather conditions and visibility requirements from the bridge.
To support this preparation, DNV will conduct a webinar on August 25th dedicated to the CIC 2026. Furthermore, it will incorporate the official questionnaire into the tool PSC Planner, available at the end of August through the platform DNV Veracity, with the aim of facilitating the preparation of the boats before the start of the campaign.
The campaign will begin on September 1st
The joint campaign organized by the Paris and Tokyo Memoranda of Understanding will once again bring together port authorities from both regions to assess compliance with international cargo securing standards. With the official questionnaire now available, shipping companies have several weeks to review their procedures, update documentation, and verify the condition of their equipment before the inspections begin PSC the next September 1st. Advance preparation will reduce the risk of deficiencies, operational delays, and potential shutdowns during the 2026 Concentrated Inspection Campaign.
Source: DNV
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