Each year, the U.S. Coast Guard issues a report on port state control, the inspection of foreign ships in national ports. The purpose of inspections is to verify that vessels are in working order and compliant with international regulations. The U.S. Coast Guard screens vessels before they arrive at U.S. ports, checking things like the ship’s condition, its emergency and safety management systems, and documentation. In some cases, the Coast Guard detains the ship, most often because of accumulations of oil in the engine room and other maintenance issues.
This year’s report is noteworthy given the state of global shipbuilding. This week, the U.S. announced plans to investigate “unfair, non-market policies and practices” in Chinese shipbuilding. The U.S. is also engaged in a major push to improve its shipbuilding capabilities and to support shipbuilding industries in Japan and South Korea.
The Geopolitics of the American President