VENEZIA – In the first ten months of the year, Port State Control inspectors of the Venice Coast Guard carried out 115 inspections on foreign ships transiting the lagoon port, ordering the detention of 18 vessels for serious violations of international maritime safety conventions.
This is a significant number, confirming Venice among the most active and rigorous Italian ports in terms of controls. The inspections, conducted by highly specialised personnel, cover not only technical aspects – fire-fighting systems, navigation equipment, onboard gear and machinery – but also crew living and working conditions.
In recent months, five of the most serious cases involved cargo ships flying flags listed in the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) “black list”, detained in Porto Marghera. Inspectors found structural deficiencies, non-functioning systems, inadequate equipment, and living conditions onboard deemed degrading. In several cases, irregularities emerged regarding contracts, wages, and crew composition, requiring intervention by the International Transport Federation (ITF), the seafarers’ union safeguarding maritime workers’ rights.
The ships were placed under detention until all deficiencies were fully rectified, with the participation of flag-state representatives, classification societies, and technical inspectors tasked with verifying corrective action.
Port State Control is the tool through which the Coast Guard ensures that ships arriving in Italian ports comply with safety regulations, environmental protection rules and maritime labour standards. Inspections cover all critical aspects: from the condition of structures and onboard systems to fire-prevention measures, from waste management to compliance with rest hours. If deficiencies are serious, the ship is detained until fully compliant.
