Inspectors detained fewer ships in 2009

Inspectors detained fewer ships in 2009    The Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MOU), an administrative agreement between 27 European countries and Canada that enforces safety, environmental and working condition standards on ships, has released its annual report and says a new inspection regime for ships will enter into effect Jan. 1.
   The agreement said it detained 4.4 percent of ships it inspected in 2009, an all-time low over the past decade.
   The Paris MOU uses a statistical formula to rate ship registries or “flags” as white, gray or black according to violations inspectors find and whether ships are detained until deficiencies are corrected.
   “In reviewing the 2009 figures it appears that with 8,501 inspections and 1,250 detentions the ships flying a 'black-listed flag' score a detention rate of 14.7 percent,' the Paris MOU said. 'For ships flying a 'grey-listed flag' the detention rate is 7.1 percent (11,223 inspections, 798 detentions) and ships flying a 'white-listed flag' 2.8 percent (51,548 inspections and 1,428 detentions).'
   In 2011 it will use a new inspection regime and ships will be divided into high, standard and low risk categories, and for the first time company performance will contribute to the risk profile.
   “Banning measures will be extended to all ship types and apply to flags on the black list and grey list. This should have an effect on a large number of general cargo ships that manage to continue trading in the area after multiple detentions,” Paris MOU said.
   The Paris MOU said 13 ships were banned in 2009. Five were flying a black-listed flag, four were white-listed and four were grey-listed at the time of the banning.