(www.MaritimeCyprus.com)Â The release of the Paris MoU 2025 Annual Report delivers a sharp, clear message to the maritime industry: despite advanced risk-based inspection frameworks and global regulatory oversight, compliance standards aboard merchant vessels continue to struggle.
With Port State Control Officers (PSCOs) executing an average of 45 inspections per day across member region ports, the latest Port State Control (PSC) findings show persistent operational vulnerabilities across safety, crew welfare, and environmental management.
Here is an in-depth breakdown of the 2025 Paris MoU Port State Control inspection results, key compliance trends, and critical deficiency areas impacting international shipping.
Key 2025 Port State Control Inspection Figures at a Glance
The 2025 inspection statistics underscore an ongoing post-pandemic reality: ship detentions remain at elevated levels.
Total Port State Inspections: 16,474 inspections conducted across regional ports.
Distinct Ships Inspected: 14,554 individual vessels.
Inspections with Deficiencies: 9,879 vessels (59.97% of all inspections).
Total Recorded Deficiencies: 51,797 deficiencies noted.
Total Detentions: 688 ships detained due to serious non-compliance.
Total Detainable Deficiencies: 4,744 serious deficiencies warranting detention action.
Refusal of Access (Banning): 19 vessels banned from Paris MoU member ports.
The Rising Detention Trend: A Persistent Post-Pandemic Challenge
The global maritime supply chain has largely stabilized post-COVID-19, yet ship detention percentages show no sign of returning to pre-pandemic baselines.
In 2025, the regional detention rate reached 4.18%. This marks a continued upward trajectory from 4.03% in 2024 and 3.86% in 2023.
Rather than pointing to a sudden failure in one single operational domain, analysis reveals systemic non-compliance distributed across core vessel safety and maintenance protocols.
"An analysis of recorded deficiencies has not revealed any specific area as the primary cause of this increase in non-compliance. We therefore urge all stakeholders to re-evaluate their operational practices and ensure strict adherence to international maritime standards..."
— Brian Hogan, Chairman & Luc Smulders, Secretary-General, Paris MoU
Top 5 Deficiency Categories in 2025
Port State Control Officers repeatedly identified deficiencies in standard safety and operational categories.
| Rank | Convention & Category | Total Deficiencies | Share of Total Deficiencies (%) |
| 1 | SOLAS Chapter II-2 (Fire Safety) | 8,713 | 16.8% |
| 2 | SOLAS Chapter II-1 (Structure & Electrical) | 6,004 | 11.6% |
| 3 | MLC, 2006 Title 4 (Health Protection & Welfare) | 5,225 | 10.1% |
| 4 | SOLAS Chapter III (Life-Saving Appliances) | 4,815 | 9.3% |
| 5 | SOLAS Chapter V (Safety of Navigation) | 3,952 | 7.6% |
Specific Deficiency Hotspots
Safety Management Systems (ISM Code): Represented 4.5% of all recorded deficiencies (2,322 instances).
Fire Doors & Openings: Accounted for 3.1% of total deficiencies (1,609 instances).
Seafarers’ Employment Agreements (SEAs): Represented 1.3% of total non-conformities (664 instances).
Engine Room Cleanliness: Comprised 1.3% of recorded deficiencies (654 instances).
General Electrical Installations: Accounted for 1.3% of deficiencies (646 instances).
Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Seafarer Rights
During 2025, the Paris MoU Committee evaluated the outcomes of its Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Crew Wages and Seafarer Employment Agreements (SEAs) under MLC, 2006.
Out of 3,863 ships targeted during the campaign, 30 vessels (0.78%) were detained specifically for detainable deficiencies tied to seafarer rights and wage provisions. While the general implementation of MLC provisions remains solid across compliant fleets, individual cases of unpaid wages and improper employment terms continue to demand strict enforcement.
Banning Orders and Dark Fleet Operations
The report highlights a sharper escalation in Refusal of Access (banning) orders, which rose to 19 in 2025 following several years of historically low counts.
Beyond port inspections, maritime authorities expressed growing concern over vessels operating outside legitimate international oversight—often referred to as shadow or dark fleets. Ships engaged in fraudulent certification, "false flags," or unflagged transits often bypass risk-based PSC regimes altogether by avoiding port calls, introducing severe risks to coastal navigation, crew safety, and marine environment protection.
The Takeaway for Maritime Operators
The Paris MoU 2025 PSC findings serve as a clear call to action. A detention rate creeping toward 4.2% signals that standard onboard maintenance, fire safety readiness, and ISM implementation cannot be treated as routine paperwork. For shipowners and operators, maintaining high operational standards is the most direct strategy to avoid costly detentions, operational disruptions, and port bans in the Paris MoU region.
For more details, click on the below image to download the full 2025 report:
Source:Â Paris MoU
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