What is the role of the Master during a PSC inspection?

• A. To present documents, answer questions, supervise crew, and facilitate the inspection
• B. To authorize additional audits
• C. To navigate the vessel during the inspection
• D. To file a post-inspection report only

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that the Master acts as the ship’s representative to port state control and must facilitate the inspection by presenting documents, answering questions, supervising the crew, and coordinating access around the vessel. In practice, this means having all required certificates and records ready for review—things like safety and life-saving certificates, ISM-related documentation, maintenance logs, crew lists, and drill records—and being prepared to explain how procedures are carried out and how compliance is maintained. The Master also directs crew members who are to be interviewed or who may need to demonstrate operations, ensuring the inspector can move smoothly through the vessel and that safety and orderly conduct are maintained. The Master’s role is to provide information and access, not to approve audits, navigate the vessel for the inspector, or file the post-inspection report alone. Those latter tasks fall outside the Master’s facilitation role, while presenting documents, answering questions, supervising crew, and enabling the inspection are exactly what the Master is expected to do.