(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) This Annual Report provides an overview of PSC activities conducted between 1 January and 31 December 2024. The reporting period was marked by the ongoing armed conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, which continued to pose serious risks to the safety and security of crews and vessels operating in the region and not boding well with the BS MoU’s objectives.
A significant observation in 2024 was the increase in the average detention rate to 4.71%, a notable rise compared to levels in 2020s, after the Covid-19, Pandemic. Of particular concern is the steady increase in detention percentages since 2021, highlighting the growing necessity of robust port State control mechanisms.
When flag States do not fully uphold their obligations, it becomes imperative for port States to intervene and address deficiencies that may jeopardize safe, environmentally responsible shipping and the well-being of seafarers.
In the year 2024, the BS MoU member Authorities carried out a total of 4,587 inspections, representing a 13.4% decrease from the 5,294 inspections conducted in 2023. This figure marks the second-lowest number of inspections since the establishment of the Black Sea MoU on PSC, surpassed only by 4,499 inspections in 2007.
Moreover, the number of individual ships inspected in 2024 (3,304) was the lowest recorded to date. A total of 216 vessels were detained due to serious deficiencies, resulting in a detention rate of 4.71%, which is nearly one-fifth higher than the rate observed in 2023 (3.93%).
Additionally, 17,285 deficiencies were recorded throughout the year, with an average of 3.77 deficiencies per inspection. This figure shows the third highest number since the New Inspection Regime was launched in 2016.
The most significant number of deficiencies found in 2024 was in the area of “Safety of Navigation”, followed by “Life Saving Appliances”, “Health Protection, Medical Care, Social Security”, “Fire Safety” and “Documents” which constitutes 52.3% of the total deficiencies found. In terms of detainable deficiencies, the categories of “Safety of Navigation”, “Fire Safety”, “Emergency Systems”, “Life Saving Appliances” and “International Safety Management (ISM)” remained the most prevalent, showing higher recording, both in numbers and relatively.
Notably, ISM related issues accounted for 7.2 per cent of all detainable deficiencies, marking an increase in the 2024 reporting period. A key regulatory milestone in 2024 was Georgia’s ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006) on 14 February. With this ratification, two-thirds of the BS MoU member Authorities have now become parties to the Convention, further reinforcing the commitment to improving seafarers’ working and living conditions. The Convention will have entered into force for Georgia on 14 February 2025, one year after ratification.
In further promoting safety and environment protection, Concentrated Inspection Campaigns (CICs) are conducted in conjunction with the Paris and Tokyo Memoranda. From 1st September to 30th November 2024, the CIC on Crew Wages and Seafarer Employment Agreement under MLC, 2006 was carried out with the participation of all member Authorities.
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Source: Black Sea MoU
