2.4 Clear Grounds

  2.4.1 When a PSCO inspects a foreign ship which is required to hold a convention certificate, and which is in a port or an offshore terminal under the jurisdiction of the port State, any such inspection should be limited to verifying that there are on board valid certificates and other relevant documentation and the PSCO forming an impression of the overall condition of the ship, its equipment and its crew, unless there are "clear grounds" for believing that the condition of the ship or its equipment does not correspond substantially with the particulars of the certificates.

  2.4.2 "Clear grounds" to conduct a more detailed inspection include:

• .1 the absence of principal equipment or arrangements required by the applicable conventions;

• .2 evidence from a review of the ship's certificates that a certificate or certificates are clearly invalid;

• .3 evidence that documentation required by the applicable conventions and listed in appendix 12 is not on board, incomplete, not maintained or falsely maintained;

• .4 evidence from the PSCO's general impressions and observations that serious hull or structural deterioration or deficiencies exist that may place at risk the structural, watertight or weathertight integrity of the ship;

• .5 evidence from the PSCO's general impressions or observations that serious deficiencies exist in the safety, pollution prevention or navigational equipment;

• .6 information or evidence that the master or crew is not familiar with essential shipboard operations relating to the safety of ships or the prevention of pollution, or that such operations have not been carried out;

• .7 indications that key crew members may not be able to communicate with each other or with other persons on board;

• .8 the emission of false distress alerts not followed by proper cancellation procedures; and

• .9 receipt of a report or complaint containing information that a ship appears to be substandard.