What is the fundamental difference between a Port State Control (PSC) inspection and a SIRE/RightShip vetting inspection?

A. PSC is a flag-neutral government enforcement check of compliance with international conventions (SOLAS, MARPOL, MLC, STCW) that can lead to detention; SIRE/RightShip are commercial inspection programmes run on behalf of oil majors/charterers/owners to assess a vessel's acceptability for charter, with no government enforcement power

B. PSC inspections are voluntary while vetting inspections are mandatory under SOLAS

C. SIRE/RightShip only apply to vessels already detained by PSC

D. They are the same inspection carried out by different organisations

A. Vetting ratings only affect the vessel's insurance premium, never its ability to trade

B. Major charterers, oil companies, and terminals routinely use vetting ratings as a screening gate before fixing a vessel — a poor rating can mean the ship is simply not offered cargo by that counterparty, regardless of whether it is technically seaworthy or compliant with PSC requirements

C. There is no commercial consequence; vetting ratings are purely internal record-keeping with no effect on chartering decisions

D. A poor vetting rating automatically triggers a PSC detention

A. A detainable deficiency only affects future inspections, not the current port call

B. The vessel is detained — prohibited from sailing until the deficiency is rectified and re-inspected (or, for some items, until the next port if a safe-passage exemption is granted), with the detention publicly recorded against the vessel and company

C. The vessel may continue trading immediately as long as the Master signs a statement promising to fix the issue later

D. Detention only applies to passenger vessels, not cargo or tank vessels