Investigation of ship radio communication deficiencies in port state controls: radio logbook records

Abstract

Radio log book records are one of the significant deficiencies items in port state controls. This study attempts to reveal the legislative gaps in radio log book inspections and to prevent deficiencies related to radio log book records. To address this issue, the annual reports from 2015 to 2020 of nine MoUs are analysed, and the deficiencies of the radio log book records from 2016 to 2020 in the USCG inspections are determined. In order to identify the radio log book records correctly, international regulations are widely scrutinised. In addition to all of these investigations, experts’ assessments are also consulted. Based on the investigation results, we derive three conclusions. First, according to Paris MoU data, 32.9% to 39.4% of the deficiencies in radio communication arise from radio log book records. Second, there are inadequate regulations on how to keep compulsory radio log book records. Third, some contradictions and uncertainties regarding the compulsory records are determined.