(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) This annual report summarizes the port State control developments and activities of the Tokyo MOU in 2024. Moreover, the report also provides port State control statistics and analysis on the results of inspections carried out by member Authorities during the year.
Year 2023 is the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Tokyo MOU. During the past three decades, the number of member Authorities has doubled and the number of inspections conducted annually has increased by four times since the inception of the Tokyo MOU. The Tokyo MOU has been uniquely successful in developing and implementing comprehensive technical cooperation programs in which more than 4,000 PSC officers in the region have participated.
The Tokyo MOU, through its effective and successful operation, has played important role for the elimination of substandard shipping in the region, which has been proved by the decreased trend of casualty rate and its strong correlation with the detention rate, a key effectiveness indicator for PSC inspections.
It was a positive sign that both the number and rate of detention showed decrease in 2024. However, the detention rate was still high, comparing with the pre-pandemic period. Furthermore, there was a significant increase of under-performing ships over 2024. For this reason, the Tokyo MOU raised high attention to enhancing measures on under-performing ships and to exploring continued action for elimination of such ships from the region and close monitoring of developments in the coming period. As a measure to drive improvement of performance, the Tokyo MOU adopted the scheme for rewarding/recognizing highperforming companies and to publicize underperforming companies. In accordance with the scheme, the lists of high performance and under-performing companies will be published on the Tokyo MOU website on regular basis.
The concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) on Crew Wages and Seafarer Employment Agreements in accordance with the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) was conducted from 1 September to 30 November 2024 jointly with the Paris MoU. During the CIC period, a total of 8,134 PSC inspections were conducted by the member Authorities, of which 6,580 (80.89%) were with a CIC inspection.
Over the period, 297 ships were detained in total, representing 3.65% of the overall detention rate. Of which, 20 ships were detained as a direct result of the CIC concerning deficiencies related to crew wages and seafarer employment agreement under the MLC, 2006, reflecting a CIC topic related detention rate of 0.3% (7% of all detentions).
The most common deficiencies (and deficiencies that resulted in a detention) found during the campaign were relating to the absence of signed Seafarer Employment Agreements (SEA) (16% of CIC-related deficiencies issued) and seafarers unable to access information regarding their employment conditions on board (28% of CIC-related deficiencies issued).
Inspections:
In 2024, 32,054 inspections, involving 18,655 individual ships, were carried out on ships registered under 107 flags. Out of 32,054 inspections, there were 19,967 inspections where ships were found with deficiencies. Since the total number of individual ships operating in the region was estimated at 28,137, the inspection rate in the region was approximately 66%.
Detentions:
A ship is detained when the condition of the ship or its crew does not correspond substantially with the applicable conventions. Such strong action is to ensure that the ship cannot sail until it can proceed to sea without presenting a danger to the ship or persons on board, and/or without presenting an unreasonable threat of harm to the marine environment. In 2024, 1,189 ships registered under 67 flags were detained due to serious deficiencies having been found onboard. The detention rate of ships inspected was 3.71%.
Deficiencies:
Where conditions on board are found that are not in compliance with the requirements of the relevant instruments by the port State control officers, these are recorded as deficiencies and required to be rectified. A total of 77,526 deficiencies were recorded in 2024. It has been noted that fire safety measures, lifesaving appliances, working and living conditions and safety of navigation continue to be the major categories of deficiencies discovered on ships. In 2024, 15,406 deficiencies related to fire safety measures, 10,263 deficiencies related to life-saving appliances, 8,193 deficiencies related to working and living conditions and 8,066 deficiencies related to safety of navigation were recorded, representing 54% of the total number of all recorded deficiencies. It is noted that, as a result of the CIC on Crew Wages and Seafarer Employment Agreements under MLC, 2006, deficiencies related to Conditions of employment and Health protection, medical care, social security increased notably, compared to the previous year. In addition, there were continuous increase of deficiencies on Certificates Water/Weathertight and Documentation, conditions, Alarms, Dangerous goods, Labour Conditions - Accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering and MARPOL Annex VI.
For even more details, view the full Tokyo MOU 2024 Port State Control report by clicking on below image.
Source: Tokyo MOU
