Chinese Journal of Polar Research

Chinese Journal of Polar Research ›› 2026, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (1): 151-162.DOI: 10.13679/j.jdyj.20240025

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Implementation of Port State Control in Antarctic gateway states: Current status and trends—An analysis of the countermeasures for China’s research vessels

SHAN Yanyan1,2, CHEN Jinggen3, FU Shanshan4, ZHU Bing2   

  1. 1School of Law, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China;
    2Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai 200136, China;
    3Law School, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China;
    4College of Transport & Communications, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China
  • Received:2024-03-11 Revised:2024-06-24 Online:2026-03-31 Published:2026-04-27

Abstract:

As an effective supplement to “Flag State Control”, “Port State Control (PSC)” has played an essential role in reducing and eliminating non-standard, unsuitable, and high-risk ships. Antarctic gateway countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, play a crucial role in supporting the flows of personnel and materials to and from Antarctica. These Antarctic gateway countries that implement PSC in the Southern Ocean belong to different PSC regional agreements. China has received two notifications of PSC inspections from Antarctic gateway countries since 1984 when China began the Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition, and Antarctic gateway countries are bound to increase their enforcement of PSC in the future. Therefore, this article systematically reviewed the implementation of PSC in Antarctic gateway countries, analyzed the development trends of PSC in the Southern Ocean waters, explored the potential impact of the PSC inspections in Antarctic gateway countries on China’s Antarctic research vessels, and proposed corresponding strategies for China’s research vessels to respond to the PSC inspections in the Southern Ocean in the future.


Key words: shipping, Port State Control, research vessel, Antarctic gateway countries, Antarctica