Record number of inspections carried out by Tokyo MOU in 2025
In 2025, the Tokyo MOU carried out 35,546 inspections – the highest number of inspections conducted in its history.
The Tokyo MOU PSC Annual Report 2025 added that “following last year, the detention rate continued the decreasing trend in 2025, however, it has not yet returned to the same level as the pre-pandemic period.”
In 2025, 35,546 inspections, involving 19,980 individual ships, were carried out on ships registered under 111 flags.
Out of those inspections, there were 23,230 inspections where ships were found with deficiencies. Since the total number of individual ships operating in the region was estimated at 30,046, the inspection rate in the region was approximately 66% in 2025.
Inspection campaigns
The organisation was informed of the results of the three focused inspection campaigns on fire safety, pilot transfer arrangements and EPIRB carried out last year.
The Committee agreed to conduct an FIC on insurance certificates under the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC), as the Paris MoU has previously done. It also accepted the proposal by the Paris MoU for a joint Concentrated Inspection Campaign on enclosed space entry in 2027.
The Committee further discussed and approved in principle the arrangements and preparations for the joint CICs on cargo securing in 2026.
The concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) on Ballast Water Management (BWM) was conducted from 1 September to 30 November 2025 jointly with the Paris MoU. During the CIC period, 9,244 PSC inspections were conducted by the member Authorities, among which 6,930 (74.96%) were with a CIC inspection.
During the period, 184 ships where a CIC was carried out were detained (2.66% detention rate). Of which, 30 detentions were the result of inspections with CIC questionnaires, which were detained as a direct result of the CIC concerning deficiencies, reflecting a CIC topic related detention rate of 0.43%.
The most common deficiencies (and deficiencies that resulted in a detention) found during the campaign were associated with proper operation of Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) that is underscoring the fact that the operation and maintenance of BWMS onboard remains a critical area for the effective implementation of the intent of the Convention.
Detentions
In 2025, 1,255 ships registered under 73 flags were detained due to serious deficiencies having been found onboard. The detention rate of ships inspected was 3.53%.
Figure 8 illustrates the most frequent detainable deficiencies found during inspections in 2025.
Deficiencies
A total of 90,168 deficiencies were recorded in 2025. Fire safety measures, lifesaving appliances, working and living conditions and safety of navigation remain as the major categories of deficiencies frequently discovered on ships.
In 2025, 18,020 deficiencies related to fire safety measures, 11,818 deficiencies related to life-saving appliances, 9,108 deficiencies related to working and living conditions and 8,936 deficiencies related to safety of navigation were recorded, representing 53% of the total number of all recorded deficiencies.
As the outcome of the CIC on Ballast Water Management (BWM) in 2025, number of deficiencies relating to BWM were three times higher than that of the previous year.
Furthermore, it is also observed that deficiencies related to structure conditions, /weathertight conditions, emergency systems and propulsion and auxiliary machinery were found increased continuously during past years.
Download the full report: Tokyo MOU Annual Report 2025
