On June 15, a U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam team conducted a port state control examination on the 472-foot Singapore-flagged commercial cargo vessel Kota Raja at the Port of Guam.
Examiners found no significant deficiencies aboard, but Coast Guard officials said the examination “highlights the importance and impact of mariners taking the port security requirements seriously.”
“The attention paid by examiners conducting multiple compliance inspections and exams on vessels in the area highlights the strategic value of Guam’s port to the people of Guam and the wider region,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.
The port state control program helps ensure that foreign-flagged vessels calling on U.S. ports adhere to established safety and environmental regulations. By conducting comprehensive examinations like the one on the Kota Raja, the Coast Guard said, it “upholds its commitment to maintaining safe maritime operations and protecting both the port and the surrounding waters.”
During the port state control exam, the crew supported a comprehensive range of tests at the examiners’ discretion, including reviewing documents, plans, manuals and logs such as licenses, endorsements, medical records and certificates for safety, security and environmental compliance.
Additionally, the crew conducts operational tests on navigation and bridge equipment, steering gear, fire pumps, bilge alarms and oily water separators. The examination also covers inspections of cargo decks, accommodation spaces, galley, engineering spaces and spot-checks of firefighting and lifesaving equipment.
Further assessments include:
• Verifying International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) Code compliance.
• Examining navigation charts and publications.
• Inspecting the marine sanitation device and incinerator.
“The recent successful port state control examination of the Kota Raja highlights our commitment to upholding safety standards and ensuring compliance in Guam’s port,” Capt. Nick Simmons, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam and the Captain of the Port for the region, said.