Paris MoU on PSC

What Paris MoU on PSC does

Paris MoU on Port State Control is an intergovernmental organization, established in 1982 and headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, that coordinates port state control (PSC) inspections among 27 European maritime authorities under a binding Memorandum of Understanding. Its mandate is to eliminate substandard shipping in European ports by harmonizing the enforcement of international maritime conventions (SOLAS, MARPOL, MLC) across member states. The organization is not a commercial entity and is funded through the contributions of participating maritime administrations rather than commercial revenue.

The core technology stack consists of a centralized Inspection Database and Inspection Search tool covering PSC records across the region, supplemented by risk-profiling calculators (Ship Risk Calculator, Company Performance Calculator, RO Performance tracking) and the White, Grey and Black (WGB) flag performance classification system, which is computed from a rolling 3-year window of inspection and detention data. Additional outputs include real-time Current Detentions and Current Bannings lists, PMoU Deficiency Codes, Monthly Detention publications, Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) results, and annual reports. The system is publicly accessible at parismou.org at no charge.

Because Paris MoU is a regulatory coordination body rather than a commercial vendor, its "go-to-market" consists of multilateral Committee meetings (the 59th was held in Glasgow), public publications, press releases, and a LinkedIn presence. Stakeholder groups include maritime authorities (primary), shipping companies, flag states, and Recognized Organizations (classification societies), each consuming different portions of the inspection database and performance list outputs.

Name

Paris MoU on PSC

Legal name

Paris MoU on Port State Control

Website

https://parismou.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Paris MoU on Port State Control is an intergovernmental organization coordinating port state control inspections among 27 European maritime authorities, providing a shared inspection database, risk calculators, and flag/RO performance lists under international maritime conventions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Regulatory Services

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Ship & Port Security Audits, Inspections & Certification (Flag/Class/PSC Support) (TLAHANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vessel Vetting & Due Diligence Services (SIRE/CDI, Terminal Vetting) (TLAHANAE), Environmental, Spill Prevention & Response Compliance (MARPOL, SOPEP/SMPEP, Waste) (TLAHANAI)

Keywords

• Port state control
• Maritime inspections
• Ship risk assessment
• Flag state performance
• Detention tracking

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Paris MoU coordinates port state control (PSC) inspections for foreign merchant ships calling at European ports on behalf of 27 participating maritime authorities. It operates a unified Inspection Database, risk profiling calculators (Ship Risk Calculator, Company Performance Calculator, RO Performance), real-time detention and banning lists, and the White, Grey and Black (WGB) flag state performance classification system to target substandard shipping. The organization also publishes PSC Inspection Guidelines, deficiency code standards, annual reports, and Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) results to harmonize enforcement across member states.

Product overview

Paris MoU on PSC operates as a coordinated port state control inspection system for maritime authorities. The organization provides a suite of inspection database tools, risk assessment calculators (Ship Risk Calculator, Company Performance Calculator), real-time detention and banning lists, statistical reporting tools (including the White/Grey/Black List classification for flag states), and periodic publications including annual reports, deficiency code guides, inspection guidelines, and Concentrated Inspection Campaign results. The core offering is the Inspection Database and Search functionality, supplemented by risk profiling tools and performance measurement systems for ships, companies, flags, and recognized organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Inspection Database Comprehensive searchable database of port state control inspections conducted by Paris MoU member authorities, allowing maritime authorities, shipping companies, and the public to query inspection records, deficiencies, and outcomes across European ports.
• Ship Risk Calculator Online calculator that computes ship risk profiles based on inspection history, detention records, flag performance, and other risk factors to prioritize inspection targeting by port state control officers.
• Company Performance Calculator Calculator tool for assessing shipping company performance based on their vessels' inspection results and detention rates within the Paris MoU region.
• RO Performance Tracking Performance tracking service for Recognized Organizations (classification societies) operating within the Paris MoU region, based on inspection outcomes.
• White, Grey and Black (WGB) List Classification system presenting flag state performance based on 3-year rolling inspection and detention data, ranging from quality flags (White List) to high-risk flags (Black List).
• Current Detentions and Bannings Service Real-time lists of ships currently detained by Paris MoU member authorities and ships subject to refusals-of-access (bans) under the Paris MoU banning policy.
• PSC Inspection Guidelines Published guidelines and procedures for conducting port state control inspections consistently across member authorities.
• Annual Report Service Annual publications providing comprehensive overviews of Paris MoU activities, inspection statistics, detention trends, and performance analyses (e.g., 2025 Annual Report published July 2026).
• PMoU Deficiency Codes Standardized coding system for recording and categorizing deficiencies found during port state control inspections.
• Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) Results Published results from Concentrated Inspection Campaigns conducted jointly by Paris MoU member authorities on specific maritime topics.

Quantifiable outcome

• Detention rate monitoring: 4.18% in 2025, up from 4.03% in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• ClassNK: One of the world's largest classification societies and a Recognized Organization whose performance is tracked by Paris MoU's RO Performance tool. While not a direct competitor, it represents the downstream ecosystem of classification and survey work that Paris MoU's PSC inspections scrutinize and rate.

Direct peers

• Mediterranean MoU on Port State Control: Neighboring regional PSC MoU covering Mediterranean maritime authorities with the same regulatory-coordination function, inspection-database approach, and performance-list framework as Paris MoU — directly relevant for understanding overlap and complementarity in the wider European-African PSC landscape.
• Tokyo MoU on Port State Control: The Asia-Pacific equivalent of Paris MoU, coordinating PSC inspections among member authorities across the Pacific region. Operates the same inspection-database, risk-calculator, and white/grey/black flag-list model covering a different but parallel geographic jurisdiction.
• Indian Ocean MoU on Port State Control: Regional PSC MoU covering Indian Ocean member authorities, sharing the same MoU governance structure, inspection-database model, and white/grey/black performance-list methodology as Paris MoU but serving a geographically distinct jurisdiction.
• Abuja MoU on Port State Control: African regional PSC MoU coordinating port state control among West and Central African maritime authorities. Closely tracks the Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU governance and inspection-database model, frequently cooperates on capacity-building initiatives with Paris MoU.
• Vina del Mar Agreement (Latin American MoU on PSC): Latin American regional PSC MoU coordinating port state control among South and Central American authorities. Operates the same MoU-based inspection-coordination and performance-rating framework as Paris MoU, with active information exchange between the two regimes.
• Caribbean MoU on Port State Control: Caribbean regional PSC MoU coordinating inspection regimes across Caribbean maritime authorities using the same MoU governance model and inspection-database methodology as Paris MoU, with whom it exchanges information on substandard vessels.

Broad incumbents

• International Maritime Organization (IMO): The United Nations specialized agency that sets the global maritime conventions (SOLAS, MARPOL, MLC) which Paris MoU inspections enforce. IMO is the upstream rule-maker while Paris MoU is the downstream regional enforcer — a clear incumbent relationship.
• European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA): EU agency supporting maritime safety, security, and pollution prevention. Operates a wider EU-wide PSC data platform (Thetis) that interfaces with Paris MoU member inspections and provides an additional layer of maritime-compliance oversight overlapping with Paris MoU's mission.

Regional players

• United States Coast Guard (USCG) Port State Control: Operates the U.S. PSC program targeting foreign vessels calling at U.S. ports, with its own inspection regime and targeting matrices. Functions as a comparable PSC regulator in a different geography, often cooperating with Paris MoU on reciprocal inspection recognition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups/3252813
• Xx.com/parismou_psc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Paris MoU on PSC