The European Maritime Safety Agency Academy plays a key role in strengthening Port State Control (PSC) capacity and promoting the harmonised implementation of international maritime standards across regional PSC regimes.

Following the integration of the Common Core Curriculum (CCC) for Port State Control Officers (PSCOs)—developed by EMSA Academy—into the official training policies of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, Mediterranean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, and Black Sea Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, the EMSA Academy has become the main training provider supporting these three regional PSC regimes.

Through this cooperation, the Academy contributes to the standardisation of inspection practices and the harmonisation of inspector competencies, ensuring that PSCOs across these regions share a common understanding of applicable international conventions, inspection methodologies, and enforcement practices.

Beyond these three regimes, the EMSA Academy also supports other PSC MoUs and maritime administrations from third countries through targeted capacity-building activities delivered on an ad hoc basis. This support includes access to selected EMSA digital tools and knowledge services, such as:

• RuleCheck, which provides structured access to up-to-date maritime legislation and regulatory requirements; and
• MaKCs (Maritime Knowledge Centres), offering curated technical guidance and knowledge resources.

Currently, four regional PSC regimes—the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, and Riyadh Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control—have access to a suite of asynchronous microlearning modules derived from the EMSA Academy’s Common Core Curriculum. These modules provide concise and practical training content, enabling inspectors to strengthen their expertise through flexible, self-paced learning aligned with internationally recognised PSC training standards.

In addition, all regional PSC regimes worldwide—including the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, Mediterranean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, Black Sea Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, Viña del Mar Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, Riyadh Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, and Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control—benefit from access to RuleCheck, ensuring inspectors worldwide have reliable and up-to-date access to maritime legislation, inspection references, and practical regulatory guidance.

Through these initiatives, EMSA contributes to global efforts to strengthen port State control, promote consistent enforcement of maritime regulations, and enhance the safety, environmental performance, and social standards of the international shipping sector.