The Paris Memorandum of Understanding (Paris MoU) on Port State Control has released its 2025 Annual Report, titled Port State Control; Progress and Performance, Highlights of the Paris MoU 2025. The report provides a comprehensive overview of inspection activities, compliance trends, and operational performance across member ports throughout 2025, highlighting key developments in port state control. Bans, detentions and deficiencies
During 2025, the number of refusals-of-access (bans) increased to 19, marking a rise following several years of relatively low figures.
The detention rate also trended upward, reaching 4.18% in 2025, compared to 4.03% in2024. This follows a period of consistently elevated detention percentages in recent years including the 4.25% recorded in 2022. The Paris MoU will continue to closely monitor these developments.
An analysis of deficiencies and detainable deficiencies reveals no significant shift towards non-compliance within any single convention or regulatory area. Instead, the data underscores recurring areas of concern that consistently show higher rates of noncompliance in both absolute and relative terms. These include fire safety (SOLAS Chapter II-2: 16.8%), structural and electrical elements (SOLAS Chapter II-1: 11.6%), and health
protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection (MLC Title IV: 10.0%).
At the specific deficiency level, fire doors (3.1%) and Seafarers’ Employment Agreements (1.3%) remain prominent areas of non-compliance. Additionally, broader ISM-related deficiencies accounted for 4.5% of the total.
Flag performance
The “White, Grey and Black (WGB) List” presents the full spectrum of performance, from quality flags to flags with poor performance that are considered high or very high risk. The list is calculated based on the total number of inspections and detentions over a three-year rolling period for flags with at least 30 inspections during that timeframe.
In terms of flag performance, no major shifts occurred compared to the previous year. Although the overall detention rate remains relatively high, the distribution of flag States across the White, Grey, and Black categories has not changed substantially.
RO performance
The Committee maintains close oversight of the performance of Recognized Organizations (ROs) acting on behalf of flag Administrations. The methodology for assessing RO performance utilises the same formula applied to flag States. To be included in this performance list, an RO must have a minimum of 60 inspections over a three-year period.
In 2025, 31 ROs met this criterion, a slight increase from the 29 ROs listed in 2024.
An assessment of RO performance revealed no concerning trends or significant deviations from previous years. Notably, the number of ROs in the lowest performance category remains small.
The results from these performance lists will be applied to Ship Risk Profile calculations starting 1 July 2026.
Robban Assafina is now on WhatsApp channel. Click Here
