Paris MoU Detention Rates Remain Above Pre-Pandemic Levels

The Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Port State Control saw a slight decrease in the overall detention rate in 2023, though it has not returned to pre-pandemic levels.

The Paris MoU, comprising 28 maritime Administrations, oversees inspections in European coastal waters and the North Atlantic to ensure international safety, security, and environmental standards, as well as adequate crew conditions. The Russian Federation is currently suspended.

The Paris MoU’s 2023 Annual Report showed the overall detention rate for 2023 stood at 3.81%, which is a decrease from the 4.25% recorded in 2022. However, this rate has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, such as the 2.98% seen in 2019.

An analysis of deficiencies indicates no significant increase in non-compliance in specific conventions compared to previous years. Recurring areas of concern continue to be SOLAS Chapter II-2 (Construction-Fire Protection, Fire Detection, and Fire Extinction) at 17.3%, SOLAS Chapter II-1 (Construction – Structure, Subdivision and Stability, Machinery and Electrical Installations) at 11.5%, and MLC Title IV (Health Protection, Medical Care, Welfare, and Social Security Protection) at 10.0%. Specific deficiencies such as ISM (4.8%), fire doors (3.2%), and cleanliness of engine rooms (1.4%) also show high rates of non-compliance.

Throughout 2023, the number of refusals-of-access, or “bans,” issued remained lower than in the pre-COVID period, with eleven bans issued—a number consistent with previous years.

Regarding flag performance, there were no significant changes from the previous year. Although the detention rate remains relatively high, the distribution of flag States across the White, Grey, and Black categories has not changed substantially. The performance of Recognized Organizations (ROs) also showed no significant deviation from previous years, with a positive observation that the number of ROs in the lowest performance category remains small.

A notable development in 2023 was the inclusion of the Maritime Authority of Montenegro as a member of the Paris MoU on Port State Control, effective from 1 July 2023. The addition strengthens the safety net created by the joint efforts of Paris MoU members across the region, particularly in the Adriatic Sea. As a result, ships with cargo destined for mainland Europe now have virtually no option but to discharge at ports within the Paris MoU’s jurisdiction, making them subject to the MoU’s risk-based inspection methodology.

“As this safety net becomes increasingly effective in the Paris MoU region, it is of course also important to eliminate substandard shipping regardless of the region in which it operates,” the Paris MoU’s Chairman and Secretary-General said in the report’s introduction.

Annually, over 17,000 inspections are conducted on foreign ships in Paris MoU ports to ensure compliance with international safety, security, and environmental standards, as well as adequate living and working conditions for crew members.

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