Key figures
| Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| Public inspection reports | 871 |
| Period | October 2022 to August 2026 |
| Ships in these reports | 221 |
| Deficiencies cited | 25,325 |
| Deficiencies per inspection, on average | 29.1 |
| Share under a critical inspection item | 22% |
| Share under the 10 most cited items | 70% |
| Median score | 97 |
| Reports below 86 | 5 of 871 |
Inspection items cited most often
The VSP inspection report has 44 inspection items. The table counts in how many of the public reports each item was cited at least once.
| Item | Topic | Points | Share of reports | Deficiencies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Decks, bulkheads, deckheads | 1 | 94% | 3,900 |
| 21 | Nonfood-contact surfaces, ambient thermometers | 1 | 87% | 2,381 |
| 27 | Nonfood-contact surfaces clean | 1 | 81% | 2,023 |
| 22 | Warewashing facilities, thermometers, test kits | 2 | 75% | 1,762 |
| 08 | Hoses, caps, fittings, sample valves, system construction | 1 | 73% | 1,559 |
| 26 | Food-contact surfaces clean, safe materials (critical) | 3 | 73% | 1,505 |
| 39 | IPM effective, approved pesticides (critical) | 3 | 72% | 1,423 |
| 19 | Food protection, labeling, utensils | 2 | 66% | 1,153 |
| 20 | PHF temperature facilities, food-contact surfaces, thermometers | 2 | 62% | 1,069 |
| 36 | Lighting | 1 | 52% | 906 |
Most of these items are worth 1 or 2 points. They still appear in nearly every inspection. Two critical items are in the top 10: item 26, clean food-contact surfaces, and item 39, integrated pest management.
Requirements cited most often
Each deficiency was matched to the EPHS section whose text is closest to the VSP recommendation. 99% of the deficiencies matched. The counts are close, not exact.
| EPHS | Requirement, in short | Item | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.6.5.9 | Decks, bulkheads, deckheads and attached equipment cleaned as often as necessary | 33 | 8.5% |
| 7.4.4.1.3 | Nonfood-contact surfaces of equipment free of dust, dirt, food residue and debris | 27 | 8.0% |
| 7.3.2.2.6 | Nonfood-contact surfaces free of unnecessary ledges and crevices, easy to clean | 21 | 5.7% |
| 8.2.1.1 | Insects, rodents and other pests effectively controlled in food areas | 39 | 5.6% |
| 7.6.5.11 | Decks, bulkheads and deckheads in food areas in good repair | 33 | 4.9% |
| 7.4.4.1.1 | Food-contact surfaces of equipment and utensils clean to sight and touch | 26 | 4.8% |
| 7.4.3.1.1 | Warewashing equipment in good repair; pressure and water thermometers accurate | 22 | 3.9% |
| 5.7.2.1.1 | Keep backflow prevention devices in good repair | 08 | 2.3% |
| 7.2.3.5.1 | Store food covered, clean, dry and at least 150 mm (6 in) above the deck | 19 | 1.9% |
| 7.6.6.1.1 | At least 220 lux (20 fc) on food prep surfaces and in prep, warewashing, storage areas | 36 | 1.9% |
The requirement names are our short forms. The binding text is the CDC VSP 2025 Environmental Public Health Standards.
Which items cost points
A cited item costs its full points once, or nothing. It never costs points per deficiency: seven deficiencies under item 33 cost 1 point. Of 11,981 items cited in these reports, 1,777 were deducted (15%). Every score equals 100 minus the points in the CDC summary report.
| Item | Topic | Points | Reports with deduction | Deducted when cited |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Decks, bulkheads, deckheads | 1 | 40% | 42% |
| 21 | Nonfood-contact surfaces, ambient thermometers | 1 | 18% | 20% |
| 22 | Warewashing facilities, thermometers, test kits | 2 | 15% | 19% |
| 08 | Hoses, caps, fittings, sample valves, system construction | 1 | 12% | 17% |
| 39 | IPM effective, approved pesticides (critical) | 3 | 12% | 16% |
| 10 | RWF maintenance and safety equipment | 2 | 10% | 22% |
| 27 | Nonfood-contact surfaces clean | 1 | 9% | 11% |
| 28 | Storage of equipment, linen, single-service | 2 | 8% | 17% |
| 26 | Food-contact surfaces clean, safe materials (critical) | 3 | 8% | 11% |
| 19 | Food protection, labeling, utensils | 2 | 8% | 13% |
The median score was 97. 5 of 871 reports scored below 86. 158 reports scored 100 although they list deficiencies.
What this means for a self-inspection
- Cleaning and repair come first. Item 33 (decks, bulkheads, deckheads) was cited in 94% of the reports. About half of these deficiencies describe damage, gaps, leaks or peeling, about four in ten describe soiling.
- Nonfood-contact surfaces of equipment (items 21 and 27) follow: dust and food residue, ledges and crevices that are hard to clean, worn seals and doors.
- Pest management (item 39, critical, 3 points) was cited in 72% of the reports. 95% of these deficiencies describe flies.
- Potable water construction (item 08) was cited in 73% of the reports. About six in ten of these deficiencies concern backflow devices, cross-connections or air gaps.
- Food-contact surfaces (item 26, critical, 3 points) were cited in 73% of the reports.
The daily checks in Sightyard USPH start with the requirements VSP cites most often, plus every critical item. The other checks are in the extended check.
Method and limits
- Source: the public inspection reports in the CDC VSP Inspection Query Tool, read in October 2026.
- The tool lists only ships that still sail to the U.S. Reports of archived ships are missing. These are public reports, not all VSP inspections.
- We publish aggregate patterns only, never figures for a single ship or company.
- Scores and points deducted come from the CDC summary report of each inspection.
- The reports show where VSP finds deficiencies. The requirements themselves come only from the CDC text. VSP decides.