Which four major IMO conventions form the core PSC framework?

• A. SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, and the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006)
• B. SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, and the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea
• C. SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, and the International Convention for the Safety of Offshore Structures
• D. SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, and UNCLOS

Answer: (A)

Port State Control inspections focus on the international rules that govern ship safety, pollution prevention, and seafarer welfare. The four conventions that form this framework are SOLAS, which sets minimum safety standards for construction, equipment and life-saving systems; MARPOL, which governs prevention of pollution from ships; STCW, which establishes the required qualifications and competencies for officers and crew; and the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006), which ensures decent working and living conditions for seafarers. Together they provide the baseline standards PSC checks to ensure ships meet safety, environmental, and labor requirements while in port. Other options mix in topics not central to PSC’s routine checks, such as offshore structures or maritime boundaries, or simply restate SOLAS, which doesn’t capture the full set of core PSC requirements.