The Paris and Tokyo MoUs on port state control are launching a joint check on navigational safety this autumn.
The concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) wants to improve standards by assessing compliance with the SOLAS convention and the competence of crew.
About 10,000 ship inspections will be carried out between 1 September and 30 November, the port state organisations said.
Inspectors will use a checklist of 12 questions. Ships could be detained if deficiencies are found.
"The regulations for navigation equipment have undergone frequent changes according to a series of amendments to SOLAS Chapter V (safety of navigation)," a joint statement said.
And while the electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) has assisted watchkeepers to maintain safety and reduce the navigational workload since its application, deficiencies relating to navigation equipment still contribute a major proportion of total faults found.
Between 2009 and 2016, a total of 174,559 deficiencies concerning safety of navigation were recorded, accounting for 15.27% of the total.
