Black Sea MOU: Regional Specificities
The detention rate in the Black Sea MOU region reached 6.78% in 2025, the highest level since 2007: a regional regime with its own priorities and dynamics, distinct from the Paris and Tokyo MOUs.
Operational Explanation
The Black Sea MOU is the regional Port State Control regime covering the coastal States of the Black Sea. Like the other regional MOUs, it applies a risk-based inspection system, but with statistics, priorities and maritime traffic dynamics of its own, distinct from those of the Paris MOU or Tokyo MOU.
In 2025, 5,117 inspections were conducted, up 11.6% on 2024, with 347 ships detained for deficiencies considered an evident danger to safety, health or the environment. The regional detention rate rose to 6.78% (from 4.71% in 2024), the highest level since 2007 and the third highest since the Black Sea MOU's founding.
Regulatory Reference
The Black Sea MOU applies the same international instruments (SOLAS, MARPOL, MLC 2006, STCW) as the other regional PSC regimes, with its own targeting and reporting system independent of the Paris MOU. The region took part in the 2025 Concentrated Inspection Campaign on Ballast Water Management, conducted from 1° September to 30 November 2025.
Scope of Application
Ships calling at ports of Black Sea MOU member States, with particular relevance for commercial traffic in the Black Sea region and the approaches to the Turkish Straits.
Procedure / How to Complete It
- Consult the statistics and specific priorities of the most recent Black Sea MOU Annual Report, without relying only on Paris/Tokyo MOU data.
- Check the Ship Risk Profile calculated specifically by the Black Sea MOU for ships operating in the region.
- Pay particular attention to the documentation and functioning of the ballast water management system, an area of attention in recent campaigns.
- Verify the consistency of general PSC documentation with the standards required by the regional regime before every port call.
- Monitor the trend of the regional detention rate, significantly rising in 2025, as an indicator of a stricter inspection context.
Practical Example
Example: before a Black Sea port call, the Company's operations office checks the ship's Black Sea MOU Ship Risk Profile (distinct from the Paris MOU's), consults the priorities of the latest Annual Report, and ensures that BWM documentation is fully consistent with the standards applied in the region.
Real Cases
Common Mistakes Mistake Library
| Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Ship preparation based only on Paris MOU statistics and priorities, without considering regional specificities | Underestimation of the real inspection/detention risk in the Black Sea MOU region | Always consult the most recent Black Sea MOU Annual Report for planning port calls in the region |
| Ship Risk Profile not checked separately for the Black Sea MOU regime | Surprise at an inspection frequency different from the one expected | Check the specific Black Sea MOU Ship Risk Profile before planning port calls in the region |
| Rising regional detention rate not monitored as a signal of a stricter inspection context | Ship preparation not adequate to the actual level of rigour of recent inspections | Monitor the trend of the regional detention rate as an indicator for calibrating the level of preparation |
PSC Observations
Operational Tips
- Always consult the most recent Black Sea MOU Annual Report, don't rely only on Paris or Tokyo MOU statistics.
- Monitor the trend of the regional detention rate: 2025 marked the highest level since 2007.
- Prioritise verification of the ballast water management system before port calls in the region, an area of attention in recent campaigns.
Checklist
- Most recent Black Sea MOU Annual Report consulted for regional statistics and priorities
- Black Sea MOU Ship Risk Profile checked separately from other regimes'
- Ballast water management system (BWMS) verified as functioning before port calls in the region
- General PSC documentation ready to standards applicable to the regional regime
- Trend of the regional detention rate monitored as an indicator of inspection context