Listed flags to get closer checks

The Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), a regional body of Port State Control (PSC) authorities in the Asia-Pacific region, has published a 'black list' of flag states whose vessels had a high rate of detentions over the past three years.

The list comprises the countries with the highest detention rate, including Vietnam, Cambodia, North Korea, Belize, Indonesia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ukraine, Turkey, Egypt, Honduras, Malta, Thailand, the mainland, Cyprus, France, Malaysia, Taiwan, India and South Korea.

'This year, Vietnam had the worst detention rate, followed by Cambodia as the second worst,' the Tokyo MOU said.

Ships flying flags from countries on the black list will be subject to higher-priority PSC inspections than other nations next year.

According to the MOU provisions, a country should not be on the black list if the total number of its ships inspected in three years was fewer than 60.

Cambodia was not listed last year because it had only 54 ships inspected, although it registered a detention rate of 18.5 per cent.