Discover how Port State Control (PSC) authorities use IMO’s Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) for intelligent inspection planning. This guide explains how GISIS data targets substandard ships, reduces inspection overlap, and enhances global maritime safety.

Imagine a global network of watchful eyes, scanning the world’s fleet not from a single tower but through a shared digital lens. This is the reality of modern Port State Control (PSC), where the power of data has transformed how authorities identify and inspect ships. At the heart of this transformation is the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS). For PSC officers from Rotterdam to Singapore, GISIS is not just a database; it is the central nervous system for inspection planning, turning fragmented information into a coherent strategy to hunt substandard shipping. This article delves deep into how this critical tool works, why it matters for every maritime stakeholder, and how it shapes the safety and fairness of global trade.

Why This Topic Matters for Maritime Operations

Port State Control is the cornerstone of maritime enforcement. As a “second line of defence,” it allows a nation to inspect foreign ships in its ports to verify compliance with international safety, security, and environmental rules. Without effective PSC, the burden of enforcement would fall unevenly, and substandard ships could shop for lax jurisdictions, threatening lives, cargo, and the marine environment.

However, conducting inspections is a complex logistical challenge. Port authorities have limited resources and cannot physically check every arriving ship. The key question is: which ships should be inspected? Traditional methods relied heavily on intuition, random checks, or outdated lists. This led to inefficiencies—compliant ships might be inspected repeatedly, while risky vessels could slip through the net. This is where strategic inspection planning becomes paramount. It is the process of intelligently targeting inspection resources based on risk, and it is precisely where GISIS proves indispensable. By providing a centralized, authoritative stream of global compliance data, GISIS empowers PSC regimes to move from reactive checking to proactive, risk-based targeting. This shift is vital for enhancing maritime safety, protecting the environment, and ensuring a level playing field for responsible shipowners.

Understanding GISIS: The Digital Backbone of Maritime Oversight

Before exploring its application in PSC, one must understand what GISIS is. Managed by the IMO, the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) is a comprehensive digital platform that consolidates maritime information submitted by member states under international conventions. Think of it as the IMO’s centralized data warehouse, designed to promote transparency and consistent implementation of global rules.

GISIS is not a single database but a system of interconnected modules. As of a recent assessment, it consists of 34 modules, with a further six under development. These modules cover a vast spectrum: from ship particulars and company details to marine casualties, pollution incidents, port reception facilities, and the status of convention ratifications. For PSC, the most relevant modules include the Ship and Company Particulars database, the dedicated Port State Control module, the Marine Casualties and Incidents module, and the MARPOL pollution incidents database.

The Port State Control module within GISIS is specifically designed to bring together information related to PSC inspections carried out worldwide under IMO instruments. Its core objectives are to support transparency, facilitate information sharing between states, assist in identifying trends and risk patterns, and strengthen global enforcement. It is important to note that GISIS acts as an information and governance tool, not a real-time inspection database. Data flows into GISIS from regional PSC regimes (MoUs) and national administrations, creating a historical and aggregated knowledge base that is crucial for planning future actions.

How PSC Authorities Use GISIS for Targeted Inspection Planning

The true power of GISIS lies in its practical application by PSC officers. Inspection planning is a multi-step process of risk assessment, and GISIS provides the critical data at each stage.

1. Pre-Arrival Risk Profiling and Targeting

Before a ship even docks, a PSC officer can query GISIS to build a risk profile. This starts with the Ship and Company Particulars module to verify the IMO number, flag state, classification society, and ISM manager. Any discrepancies here are an immediate red flag.

The officer then turns to the Port State Control module to examine the vessel’s inspection history. They look for:

• Historical inspection data and detention records.

• Patterns of deficiencies (e.g., recurring issues with fire safety or life-saving appliances).

• The performance record of the vessel’s Recognized Organization (RO) or classification society.

This historical data is combined with information from other modules. Has the ship been involved in a marine casualty or incident (e.g., a grounding or collision)?. Does it have a record of MARPOL pollution violations?. By cross-referencing this data, the officer can assign a risk score. Ships with poor inspection histories, from flags with lower performance, or with involved in incidents are flagged for priority inspection.

2. Enhancing Regional Coordination and Reducing Overlap

One of GISIS’s greatest contributions is fostering coordination among the world’s ten regional PSC regimes. Before GISIS, data silos could lead to the same ship being inspected multiple times in quick succession across different regions—a burden for compliant operators and a waste of inspector resources.

GISIS breaks down these silos. Regional MoUs feed their inspection data into the system, creating a shared global knowledge base. For example, a deficiency recorded by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) in the Tokyo MoU region can be instantly seen by a PSC officer in the Paris MoU region. This “harmonized inspection targeting” has a measurable impact. According to the Tokyo MoU 2023 Annual Report, this use of GISIS helped reduce inspection overlap by 27% across 20 member states. This allows regimes to focus their efforts on ships that have not been recently inspected or that pose a higher risk, making the entire global system more efficient.

3. Supporting Concentrated Inspection Campaigns (CICs)

PSC regimes often run time-limited Concentrated Inspection Campaigns (CICs) focusing on specific themes, like fire safety or electronic chart systems. GISIS is instrumental in planning and analyzing these campaigns. Authorities can use historical deficiency data from GISIS to identify which ship types or flags have recurring problems in the campaign’s focus area. After the campaign, results are reported back to the IMO through GISIS, contributing to a cycle of continuous improvement and global trend analysis.

Real-World Application: A Case Study in Data-Driven Action

The value of GISIS in inspection planning is not theoretical. Real-world events consistently demonstrate its utility. A prominent example followed the grounding of the container ship Ever Given in the Suez Canal in March 2021. While this was a navigational incident, it triggered global scrutiny of Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) and their risk profiles.

In response, PSC authorities in Europe and Asia began pulling data from GISIS on ULCVs with characteristics linked to higher risk. By cross-referencing GISIS data with local records, they identified vessels for priority inspection. Reports indicate that at least 14 ULCVs were flagged for priority inspection within six months of the incident, with GISIS data playing a key role in this targeting. This shows how GISIS enables a proactive, intelligence-led response to emerging risks, not just a reactive review of past non-compliance.

Challenges and Practical Solutions in Using GISIS for Planning

While powerful, the use of GISIS in inspection planning is not without challenges. Recognizing these is key to understanding the system’s evolution.

• Data Quality and Timeliness: GISIS is only as good as the data fed into it. Inconsistencies in reporting by different administrations or delays in data entry can affect its reliability. The IMO addresses this through ongoing training and by establishing clear data exchange agreements with regional regimes.

• System Integration: PSC officers rarely use GISIS in isolation. They typically consult regional databases (like the Paris MoU’s THETIS or the Tokyo MoU’s APCIS), commercial services like Equasis or MarineTraffic, and internal systems. The challenge is seamless integration. Solutions are emerging, such as the development of APIs and the deep-linking already established between regional systems like APCIS and GISIS.

• Balancing Transparency and Confidentiality: Some data in GISIS, particularly related to security (ISPS) or ongoing investigations, is restricted. PSC authorities must navigate these access levels while building a complete risk picture.

The maritime community is actively working on solutions. The IMO regularly convenes workshops for PSC secretaries and database managers to harmonize procedures and discuss technical cooperation. Future development roadmaps for GISIS, informed by user feedback, aim to make the platform more intuitive and integrated.

The Future Outlook: GISIS and the Evolution of PSC

The future of PSC inspection planning is undoubtedly more data-driven, predictive, and interconnected. GISIS is poised to be at the center of this evolution. Based on discussions at forums like the IMO’s GISIS User Forum, several key trends are emerging:

1. Advanced Analytics and Predictive Risk Modeling: Future iterations of GISIS may incorporate tools for real-time risk profiling and predictive analytics. By applying machine learning to historical inspection, casualty, and AIS data, the system could flag vessels with a high probability of deficiencies before they even arrive in port.

2. Enhanced API Integration and Automation: To reduce manual data lookup, IMO is exploring API integration that would allow PSC targeting software to pull relevant GISIS data automatically, creating dynamic risk dashboards for inspectors.

3. Greater Inter-Regional Benchmarking: GISIS could evolve to provide more sophisticated benchmarking tools, allowing flag states, classification societies, and ship managers to compare their performance against global averages, driven by transparent PSC data.

4. Modernization of the Platform: The IMO has already signaled its intent to modernize GISIS, seeking proposals for system upgrades to ensure it remains a robust, user-friendly platform for decades to come.

These advancements will further shift PSC from a snapshot-in-time activity to a continuous, intelligence-driven oversight process, with GISIS as its foundational platform.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the difference between GISIS and Equasis?
Both are important maritime databases, but they serve different primary purposes. GISIS is the IMO’s official regulatory repository, containing data submitted by member states, including confidential information on security (ISPS) and pollution. Equasis is a public-facing platform, primarily funded by the European Commission, that aggregates safety-related data (including PSC data from GISIS) for commercial and transparency purposes. GISIS is the source; Equasis is a public dissemination channel.

2. Can shipping companies access the PSC data in GISIS?
Yes, to a significant degree. The public area of GISIS allows anyone to search for ship particulars and view PSC inspection records. This transparency allows companies to monitor their fleet’s compliance record, understand common deficiency areas, and benchmark their performance.

3. How current is the data in GISIS?
Data is updated regularly by member states, flag administrations, and MoU secretariats. The update frequency can vary by module and submitting authority, but the system is designed for daily updates to maintain its relevance for operational decision-making.

4. Do PSC officers only use GISIS for planning?
No. GISIS is a cornerstone tool, but officers use it in conjunction with other resources. These include their regional MoU’s dedicated database (e.g., THETIS for Paris MoU), the Equasis public website, AIS tracking services like MarineTraffic for real-time movement data, and internal national systems.

5. How does GISIS help eliminate substandard shipping?
By enabling risk-based targeting, GISIS ensures that inspection resources are focused on ships most likely to be non-compliant. This increases the detection rate of substandard ships, leading to detentions and mandatory repairs. The public visibility of this data also creates a powerful market incentive for operators to maintain high standards to avoid being targeted.

6. What is the legal status of GISIS records?
As official records maintained by the IMO, data from GISIS is admissible in regulatory enforcement proceedings and maritime arbitration cases. It serves as an authoritative source of a vessel’s compliance history.

Conclusion

The journey of Port State Control from a scattered, intuition-based activity to a coordinated, intelligence-driven global network is deeply intertwined with the development of the IMO’s GISIS. By serving as the central hub for inspection data, GISIS has revolutionized inspection planning. It empowers authorities to target substandard ships with precision, rewards compliant operators with fewer inspections, and fosters unprecedented levels of cooperation across the world’s oceans.

For maritime professionals—be they shipowners, managers, flag state administrators, or classification society surveyors—understanding GISIS is no longer optional. It is essential for navigating the modern compliance landscape. As the system evolves with more predictive tools and deeper integration, its role as the digital watchtower of maritime safety will only grow stronger. In the relentless pursuit of safer, cleaner, and fairer seas, GISIS stands as a testament to the power of shared information and collective action.

References

1. International Maritime Organization (IMO). (n.d.). Port State Control. Retrieved December 29, 2025, from https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/IIIS/Pages/Port%20State%20Control.aspx

2. MaritimEducation. (n.d.). How Port State Control Authorities Use GISIS to Track Non-Compliant Vessels. Retrieved December 29, 2025, from https://maritimeducation.com/how-port-state-control-authorities-use-gisis-to-track-non-compliant-vessels/

3. Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control. (2023). *Annual Report on Port State Control in the Asia-Pacific Region 2023*. Retrieved from https://www.tokyo-mou.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/ANN23-web.pdf

4. International Maritime Organization (IMO). (2017, November 6). Port State control regimes move to boost collaboration, harmonization and information sharing [Press briefing]. Retrieved from https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/PressBriefings/Pages/30-PSC-workshop.aspx

5. Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC). (2019). Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS). REMPEC/WG.45/INF.4. Retrieved from https://www.rempec.org/en/knowledge-centre/online-catalogue/2019/rempec-wg-45-inf-4-global-integrated-shipping-information-system-gisis

6. MaritimEducation. (n.d.). Port State Control (PSC) in IMO GISIS. Retrieved December 29, 2025, from https://maritimeducation.com/port-state-control-psc-in-imo-gisis/