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1. Vessel identification Port inspectors shall:

(1) verify that the official documentation on board is valid, if necessary, through appropriate contacts with the flag State or international records of vessels;

(2) where necessary, arrange for an official translation of the documentation;

(3) verify that the vessel’s name, flag, any external identification number and markings (and International Maritime Organization (IMO) ship identification number when available) and the international radio call sign are correct;

(4) as far as possible, examine whether the vessel has changed name and/or flag and, if so, note the previous name(s) and flag(s);

(5) note the port of registration, name and address of the owner (and operator and beneficial owner if different from the owner), agent, and master of the vessel, including the unique ID for company and registered owner if available; and (6) note the names and addresses of previous owners, if any, during the past five years.

2. Authorisations

Port inspectors shall verify that authorisations to fish or transport fish and fishery products are compatible with the information obtained under point 1 and examine the duration of the authorisations and their application to areas, species and fishing gear.

3. Other documentation Port inspectors shall review all relevant documentation, including documents in electronic format. Relevant documentation may include logbooks, in particular the fishing logbook, as well as the crew list, stowage plans and drawings or descriptions of fish holds if available. Such holds or areas may be inspected in order to verify whether their size and composition correspond to those drawings or descriptions and whether the stowage is in accordance with the stowage plans. Where appropriate, that documentation shall also include catch documents or trade documents issued by any regional fisheries management organisation.

4. Fishing gear

(1) Port inspectors shall verify that the fishing gear on board is in conformity with the conditions of the authorisations. The gear may also be checked to ensure that features such as, inter alia, the mesh sizes (and possible devices), length of nets and hook sizes conform with applicable regulations and that identification marks of the gear correspond to those authorised for the vessel.

(2) Port inspectors may also search the vessel for any fishing gear stowed out of sight and for fishing gear that is otherwise illegal.

5. Fish and fishery products (1) Port inspectors shall, to the greatest extent possible, examine whether the fish and fishery products on board were harvested in accordance with the conditions set out in the applicable authorisations. In doing so, port inspectors shall examine the fishing logbook and reports submitted, including those transmitted by a VMS, as appropriate.

(2) In order to determine the quantities and species on board, port inspectors may examine the fish in the hold or during the landing. In doing so, port inspectors may open cartons where the fish has been pre-packed and move the fish or cartons to ascertain the integrity of fish holds.

(3) If the vessel is unloading, port inspectors may verify the species and quantities landed. Such verification may include product type, live weight (quantities determined from the logbook) and the conversion factor used for calculating processed weight to live weight. Port inspectors may also examine any possible quantities retained on board.

(4) Port inspectors may review the quantity and composition of all catch on board, including by sampling.

6. Verification of IUU fishing Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 applies.

7. Report A written report shall be prepared and signed by the inspector on completion of the inspection and a copy provided to the master of the vessel.

8. Results of port state inspections Results of port state inspections shall include at least the following information:

(1) Inspection references — inspecting authority (name of inspecting authority or the alternate body nominated by the authority),

— name of inspector,

— date and time of inspection,

— port of inspection (place where the vessel is inspected), and — date (date the report is completed).

(2) Vessel identification — name of the vessel,

— type of vessel,

— type of gear,

— external identification number (side number of the vessel) and IMO-number (if available) or other number as appropriate,

— International Radio Call Sign,

— MMS I-number (Maritime Mobile Service Identity number), if available,

— Flag State (the State where the vessel is registered),

— previous names and flags, if any,

— home port (the port of registration of the vessel) and previous home ports,

— vessel owner (name, address, contact),

— vessel beneficial owner if different from the vessel owner (name, address, contact),

— vessel operator responsible for using the vessel if different from the vessel owner (name, address, contact),

— vessel agent (name, address, contact),

— names and addresses of previous owners, if any,

— name, nationality and maritime qualifications of master and fishing master, and — crew list.

(3) Fishing authorisation (licences/permits) — the vessels’ authorisations to fish or transport fish and fish products,

— states issuing the authorisations,

— terms of the authorisations, including areas and duration,

— relevant regional fisheries management organisation,

— areas, scope and duration of the authorisations,

— details of allocation authorised – quota, fishing effort or other,

— species, by-catch and fishing gear authorised, and — transhipment records and documents (where applicable).

(4) Fishing trip information — date, time, zone and place current fishing trip commenced,

— areas visited (entry and exit from different areas),

— transhipment activities at sea (date, species, place, quantity of fish transhipped),

— last port visited,

— date and time when current fishing trip ended, and — intended next port of call, as appropriate.

(5) Result of the inspection on the catch — start and end of discharge (times and date),

— fish species,

— product type,

— live weight (quantities determined from the logbook),

— relevant conversion factor,

— processed weight (quantities landed by species and presentation),

— equivalent live weight (quantities landed in equivalent live weight, as ‘product weight multiplied with the conversion factor’),

— intended destination of fish and fishery products inspected, and — quantity and species of fish retained on board, if any.

(6) Results of gear inspection — details of gear types.

(7) Conclusions — Conclusions of the inspection including identification of the violations believed to have been committed and reference to the relevant rules and measures. Such evidence shall be attached to the inspection report.