Council Directive 95/21/EC concerning the enforcement, in respect of shipping using Community ports and sailing in the waters under the jurisdiction of the Member States, of international standards for ship safety, pollution prevention and shipboard living and working conditions (port State control).

The purpose of this Directive is to help drastically to reduce substandard shipping in the waters under the jurisdiction of Member States by increasing compliance with international and relevant Community legislation on, inter alia, maritime safety and protection of the marine environment. The Directive provides for the establishment of common criteria for control of ships by the port State and harmonization of procedures on inspection and detention, in compliance with the international agreements listed out in article 2. As regards the application scope, this Directive applies to any ship, and its crew, calling at a port of a Member State or at an off-shore installation, or anchored off such a port or such an installation. Member States shall appoint or designate appropriate authorities for the inspection of ships (art. 4). On completion of inspections, reports shall be prepared as per article 8. The following seven Annexes are attached: (I) Ships to be considered for priority inspection; (II) List of certificates and documents; (III) Examples of “clear grounds” for a more detailed inspection; (IV) Procedures for the control of ships; (V) Expanded inspection; (VI) Criteria for detention of a ship; (VII) Minimum criteria for inspectors.