Port State Control
Port State Control (PSC)
A Port State Control, sometimes abbreviated as PSC, is the control of international vessels landing in one’s ports. This control is intended to uncover whether a vessel is in line with international rules and to give an overview of the vessel’s catch.
There are always two authorities that must approve the landing of catch: the flag state authority, which validates the catch information, and the port state authority, which approves and (possibly) inspects the landing. If the flag state authority rejects the PSC, then you will also be denied access to the country’s harbours. It is therefore imperative that you always fill everything out correctly.
GFLK functions as port state authority for foreign vessels that land in Greenland, and as flag state authority for Greenlandic vessels that land in foreign ports. When the vessel has gotten its PSC approved and arrives in port, then the vessel can also be subjected to a physical inspection as control of the reported circumstances. Each country has a certain percentage of physical inspections that they must conduct every year, so not all landings will result in an inspection.
GFLK maintains supervision of three different PSC’s as described in further detail in the following sections, also including links to the relevant forms that must be filled out. The port state authority forwards the forms to the flag state authority that must then confirm and return the forms to the port state authority, who can then either approve or reject the landing.
PSC-1: Port State Control of foreign vessels in Greenland's harbours
Foreign vessels with catch on board that has not previously been landed may only dock at a port in Greenland that has been designated by Greenland’s Fishery License Control Authority with permission from the port state authority. This applies regardless of whether it concerns a landing, transhipment or to receive a service.
The designated ports for landings of catch are Nuuk and Sisimiut. The list of designated ports for service can be found on NEAFC’s or NAFO’s homepage.
Foreign vessels, which wish to land or seek service in a port in Greenland, must report this to GFLK as the port state authority at least 3 workdays before expected arrival. If you wish to cancel the report of expected arrival, then you can do this up to 24 hours prior to the original expected arrival.
If you continue fishing after sending your PSC, then you must cancel the previous PSC and send in a new one. Afterwards, you must contact GFLK if you wish to keep the previously reported arrival time. If you do not contact GFLK, or if you get your PSC rejected, then you will be denied landing. Additionally, GFLK has an arrangement with freight companies like RAL and Blue Water to deny transportion of goods, and the catch will subsequently be taken into custody. If there is a reasonable expectation that the catch will perish, then it can be sold off and the profits taken into custody instead. The Government of Greenland is not liable to compensation for any losses incured in connection with the sale.
GFLK can at any point assign a different deadline.
The PSC-1 form is available here: Part A is to be filled out by the skipper or authorised agent and sent to GFLK, and GFLK will then forward the form to the flag state and CC’ing the skipper. If everything checks out, then the flag state will fill out and sign part B and send the form back to GFLK, after which GFLK will fill out and sign part C and send the completed document back to the skipper. If the flag state cannot validate the form, then GFLK will send the rejected document back to the skipper who will then have to start the process anew.
Port State Control (PSC) of catches from NEAFC-regulation areas
Greenland is part of an agreement with the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) stating that vessels must send a PSC certificate before landing their fish. This applies to the entire North Atlantic area. Port State Control (PSC) applies to the landing of all fishery products from the NEAFC Convention Area (east of 42 W). Vessels landing only fresh tanked products abroad caught in the NEAFC Convention Area are also covered by the PSC.
You must normally report the quantities you want to land no later than three workdays before landing. If you land in Norway, however, you can wait with reporting until 24 hours before landing. You must report whether you land your own catch or whether you land a catch that has been transshipped from another vessel. It is the job of GFLK to validate this information for Greenlandic vessels in their capacity as flag state authority. You are not allowed to sail into port or commence landing or transshipment before GFLK has approved the PSC, and if GFLK rejects the PSC, then you will also be rejected by the port state authority.
At the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), you have the opportunity to report online via a self-service. You must first be registered as a skipper before you can access the self-service and request a PSC. You can also download instructions, as well as the list of designated ports that apply to NEAFC sites.
Both the port state and the flag state authorities approve or reject the landing through the self-service. As a skipper, you can track the status of your PSC request on the website.
Port State Control of catches from NAFO-regulated areas
Greenland is part of an agreement with the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) stating that vessels must send a PSC certificate before landing their fish. This applies to the entire North Atlantic area. Port State Control (PSC) applies to the landing of all fishery products from international waters from the NAFO Convention Area (west of 42 W).
You must report the quantities you want to land no later than three workdays before landing. You must report whether you land your own catch or whether you land a catch that has been transhipped from another vessel. It is the job of GFLK to validate this information for Greenlandic vessels in their capacity as flag state authority. You are not allowed to sail into port or commence landing or transshipment before GFLK has approved the PSC, and if GFLK rejects the PSC, then you will also be rejected by the port state authority.
At the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) you can download the set of rules and you can download the PSC forms and the list of designated ports. The forms must be sent to the port state authority of the port where you want to land your catch. Contact addresses, e-mail and fax numbers for designated ports can be found on the website.
