- The number of bans in 2024 remained stable at 15, continuing a downward trend compared to pre-COVID years.
- Detention rates have risen to 4.03% in 2024, up from 3.81% in 2023, maintaining a consistently high level.
- Fire safety, structural/electrical systems, and MLC-related issues remain the top areas of deficiency, with no major shifts in flag or Recognized Organization performance.
The Paris Memorandum of Understanding (Paris MoU) has released its 2024 Annual Report, providing insight into inspection activities and compliance statistics. Notably, the number of bans (refusals of access) issued in 2024 stood at 15, showing a stable trend and continuing to remain lower than the levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the detention rate has increased again to 4.03%, up from 3.81% in 2023, and remains high compared to recent years (4.25% in 2022), indicating persistent non-compliance issues, according to safety4sea.
Areas of Frequent Deficiencies
While no single international convention or specific section showed a dramatic rise in non-compliance, recurring issues continue to be seen in certain areas. Fire safety under SOLAS Chapter II-2 represented the highest rate of detainable deficiencies at 17.2%. Structural and electrical issues under SOLAS Chapter II-1 followed at 11.3%, while issues related to crew welfare and social security under MLC Title IV stood at 10.4%.
Specific deficiency items with notable non-compliance included fire doors (3.2%) and Seafarers’ Employment Agreements (1.5%). Additionally, general deficiencies under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code were recorded at 4.6%.
Flag State Performance
The distribution of flag States across the Paris MoU’s White, Grey, and Black lists remains broadly consistent with previous years. The number of low-performing flag States continues to stay below pre-pandemic levels, showing no significant shifts in overall flag performance despite the increase in detentions.
Recognized Organization (RO) Observations
No major changes were recorded in the performance categories of Recognized Organizations. However, the number of detainable deficiencies attributed to ROs has risen. While this has not affected their assigned performance categories, it reflects a possible decline in quality for some organizations. On a positive note, the number of ROs in the lowest performance category remains limited, signaling a degree of stability in the broader RO framework.
The 2024 Paris MoU Annual Report underscores a mixed picture for maritime safety and compliance. While bans remain at a relatively low and stable level, the uptick in detentions suggests ongoing compliance issues. Persistent deficiencies in fire safety, electrical systems, and seafarer welfare highlight the need for sustained vigilance across fleets, even as flag and RO performance remains generally steady.
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Source: safety4sea
