Tokyo MoU Committee explores current PSC trends

Decisions of the Committee

The Committee considered and adopted a scheme for rewarding/recognizing high-performing companies and to publicize under-performing companies, which was developed by an intersessional working group. In accordance with the adopted scheme, lists of high-performing companies and under-performing companies will be published on the Tokyo MOU website on trial basis. Furthermore, the Committee did the following:

• Considered and approved the report on the Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Fire Safety in 2023, which will be available on the Tokyo MOU website in the near future.
• Took note of the status of the ongoing joint CIC with the Paris MoU on Crew Wages and Seafarer Employment Agreement (MLC) in 2024.
• Discussed and approved in principle the arrangements and preparations for the joint CICs on Ballast Water Management (BWM) in 2025 and cargo securing in 2026.
• Decided to replace the current terms of Black, Grey, and White for flag performance with Low, Medium, and High and adopted amendments to the Memorandum to incorporate the new terms.
• Adopted amendments to the Memorandum for deletion of IMO member State audit from the ship risk profile parameters, effective 1 July 2025.
• Adopted guidelines for pre-inspection of electronic verification of certificates and records and for PSC Inspections of Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel (IP Code).
• Approved revisions and amendments to several existing guidelines.
• Decided to develop guidelines for enhanced machinery inspection and inspection of inert gas systems.
• Considered the work by the intersessional group on fishing vessels, including the development and operational testing of the Asia Pacific Fishing Vessel Information System (APFISh), and approved its formal commencement.
• Noted that most detainable deficiencies recorded during the operational testing of fishing vessels were related to one or more MARPOL Annexes.
• Expressed satisfaction with the successful organization of technical cooperation activities and conveyed appreciation to member Authorities, the Secretariat, and the Nippon Foundation for their contributions.
• Observed a consistent high detention rate and an increase in under-performing ships over the past two years and agreed to monitor these trends closely.
• Raised concerns about improper conduct by certain flag States and ROs, including the extension of certificate validity in violation of conventions, approval of unjustified equivalent arrangements, and ineffective remote surveys.
• Raised concerns about attempts by some flag States to conclude bilateral agreements with port States to avoid detentions and urged member Authorities to be vigilant against such agreements.
• Re-elected Mr. Kenny Crawford, Deputy Chief Executive Technical Advice and Support, Maritime New Zealand, as Chair and Mr. Chen Kit Jam, Senior Deputy Director, Shipping Division, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, as Vice-Chair for the next three meetings.
• Organized a session of open forum for exchange of views with the industry, with participation from ACS, IACS, ASA, ICS, INTERTANKO, and ITF either in-person or remotely.

The 36th meeting of the Port State Control Committee is tentatively scheduled to be held in Hong Kong, China, from 20 to 23 October 2025.