# Analyzing Port State Control Data to Explore Future Improvements to GMDSS Training
## 5 Conclusions  
After analyzing the Paris MoU PSC data associated with inadequate continuous training of deck officers, the study's interesting findings can be summarized as follows: During the 18-year examination period, although the total number of deficiencies identified in GMDSS inspections decreased, those attributed to lack of officer skills did not reduce at the same rate. In recent years, deficiencies related to officer skill deficiencies were the type most detected and were most frequently associated with ship detention. The most common cause of vessel detention in recent years is the inability of OOWs to demonstrate their proficiency in handling radio equipment, especially in distress, emergency, and safety communications procedures. The radio communication deficiencies leading to ship detentions are linked to the same identified explanatory variables as in previous studies. These factors disproportionately affect older ships, flags of convenience, cargo ships, and Mediterranean ports.  
Although the introduction of new technology can help address some of these issues, it is recommended to establish consistent use of shipboard communication courses to review essential safety skills and knowledge that are rarely used. Mentoring cadets and inexperienced officers by experienced ex-officers and publishing good practice guides for testing and maintaining facilities and backup power sources is a topic that requires further investigation.  
In the methodology section, it has become apparent that a more reliable approach to identifying ships with inadequate communication safety performance is to focus on the frequency of inspections revealing deficiencies during a given time frame instead of solely focusing on the total number of deficiencies found during that same period. This leads to a hypothesis for future research: testing whether a ship's poor safety performance relates to the neglected radio competence of officers in operation and maintenance. Such neglect may cause repeated deficiencies over long periods, which form a long-term indicator of performance and a potential predictor of failure over time. In addition, this selection criterion aligns with the recommendations outlined in IMO Circular (2006) MSC.1/Circ.1208 by objectively examining inadequacies related to training and skill upgrading.  
**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, J.L.C., R.E.R.-C. and F.P.; Methodology, J.L.C., R.E.R.-C. and F.P.; Software and formal analysis, J.L.C.; Validation, J.L.C., R.E.R.-C. and F.P.; Resources, R.E.R.-C. and F.P.; Data curation, J.L.C. and R.E.R.-C.; Writing--original draft preparation, R.E.R.-C. and J.L.C.; Writing--review and editing, J.L.C., R.E.R.-C. and F.P.; Supervision, J.L.C. and F.P.; Funding acquisition, F.P. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research received no external funding.  
Not applicable.  
Data Availability Statement: Data available from the Paris MoU inspections database, which can be located at [[https://parismou.org/inspection-Database/inspection-search/](https://parismou.org/inspection-Database/inspection-search/)]([https://parismou.org/inspection-Database/inspection-search/](https://parismou.org/inspection-Database/inspection-search/)).  
This research was financed with funds from the University of Cadiz (Spain) for departments with a shortage of young and newbie researchers. The authors wish to thank the Paris MoU for the ease of access to information for the PSC data related to SOLAS chapter IV, Radiocommunications.  
The authors declare no conflict of interest.