In an era of heightened regulatory scrutiny, ship detentions are no longer just operational inconveniences — they are critical risk indicators across the maritime value chain.
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Port State Control (PSC) inspections continue to expose recurring patterns of non-compliance, resulting in costly delays, contractual disputes, and reputational harm for owners, operators, and charterers alike.
This article breaks down where and why detentions happen, the financial and operational fallout, and how data-driven vetting and risk intelligence can help stop problems before they reach the dock with your cargo on board.
In Q3 2025, Port State Control authorities completed 19,643 inspections, uncovering 58,205 deficiencies and detaining 508 vessels — roughly 3% of all ships inspected.
Marine Traffic - PSC update July 2025
Marine Traffic - PSC update August 2025
Marine Traffic - PSC update September 2025
These figures confirm what the industry already senses: detentions are widespread, persistent, and highly concentrated in high-volume trade regions.
Each detention tells the same story: systemic weaknesses ignored until enforcement arrives.
A detention means paying for the costly downtime of a ship that is delayed beyond agreed terms — time lost, money lost, and trust damaged.
Detentions derail schedules, delay cargo, and cause vessels to miss laycans or berth windows — cascading delays across the supply chain. In volatile energy and bulk markets, even short delays can swing P&L positions.
Repeat detentions quickly brand a vessel, its operator and potentially its charterer — as unreliable.
Once detained, a vessel faces ongoing scrutiny: more frequent PSC checks, audits, and oversight from flag and class.
Behind every detention are missed warning signs — recurring deficiencies, weak management systems, or ignored recommendations.
Data shows that detentions rarely happen in isolation. Ships with prior deficiencies often repeat them, reflecting organisational culture more than technical failure.
That’s where risk intelligence and modern vetting systems make the difference — identifying early warning signs of management neglect or systemic non-compliance — enabling intervention before the regulators step in.
Vessel vetting has evolved from a simple pre-charter checklist into a strategic, data-driven risk intelligence function that supports both safety and commercial performance.
Modern vetting aggregates data like Equasis, SIRE and other proprietary sources, incorporating technical manager performance history, incident trends, class and flag risk indicators, and sister vessel records to build a holistic view of the vessel and its DOC holder — exposing compliance issues before they escalate.
Vetting today looks beyond hull and hardware — it evaluates management culture, identifying repeat deficiencies or overdue corrective actions before they spiral.
Robust vetting ensures charterers avoid vessels with unresolved deficiencies or recent detentions, protecting operational integrity and commercial reputation.
The best way to manage detention risk is by reducing or removing sub-standard vessels from your supply chain or maritime exposure, thereby ensuring the long-term safety and reliability of your operations.
At Shipvet, we specialise in proactive, data-driven vetting that flags hidden risks before they become regulatory crises. Marine risk cannot be reduced to zero, but it can be measured and managed.
Our vetting process examines every layer — from inspection reports and maintenance logs to ownership history and management performance — identifying vessels that may have unresolved maintenance issues or historical patterns of deficiencies, potentially preventing the selection of vessels at risk of detention.
We understand that even a minor comment in an inspection report could indicate a deeper, systemic issue that may lead to detention if not addressed promptly.
In March 2024, Shipvet conducted an in-depth vetting on a vessel for one of our clients. The inspection revealed multiple deficiencies, and our team, aware of the possible risks, advised our client to avoid chartering the vessel commenting that “the nature and number of observations [in the inspection report] are such that we believe the vessel requires re-inspection before being considered for use.”
Later that year, the vessel underwent a Port State Control inspection in October 2024, which uncovered 12 deficiencies. By December 2024, the vessel was detained for two weeks with 25 deficiencies, many of which stemmed from poor maintenance practices and inadequate safety procedures.
Thanks to Shipvet's detailed vetting process, our client avoided chartering a vessel that was later deemed unsafe and structurally unsound, thus saving them from potential operational disruptions and liability.
In December 2024, another vessel was flagged by Shipvet’s vetting team. The inspection report raised 25 observations, including issues with poor maintenance and recordkeeping, and safety concerns. Recognising the risks, our client chose to abandon the vetting request for this vessel.
However, the story didn’t end there. In July 2025, a different client considered chartering the same vessel. A subsequent inspection revealed that the vessel’s condition had further deteriorated, with heavy rust on critical areas such as the deck, fittings, manifold valves, and high-pressure hydraulics. The number of deficiencies noted was significantly higher than average, and the overall condition was deemed poor.
Given these findings, the vessel was once again rejected for chartering, as it was deemed a prime candidate for detention. This vessel, once flagged by Shipvet, is now under continuous observation for any future vetting requests.
These examples demonstrate the value of Shipvet’s thorough vetting process in preventing costly delays, detentions, and safety incidents. By catching early warning signs such as inconsistent maintenance practices, record-keeping issues, and visible deterioration, we help charterers make informed decisions that protect both their cargo and reputation.
Our in-depth analysis provides clients with a detailed understanding of each vessel's true condition, enabling them to assess the risks accurately and avoid vessels that could jeopardize their operations. Additionally, we provide continuous monitoring, ensuring that clients remain informed about the vessels they are considering, even if they were initially flagged or rejected.
