The Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has published its new performance lists for flag states and recognised organisations. France now tops the list, up from 11. The Netherlands loses two spots and moves from 2 to 4.
The new Paris MoU lists take effect from the 1st of July 2025. The flag state performance overview is divided into a White, Grey and Black List. It is based on the total number of inspections and detentions during a three-year rolling period for flags with at least thirty inspections in the period.
The White List represents quality flags with a consistently low detention record. Flags with an average performance are shown on the Grey List. Their appearance on this list may serve as an incentive to improve. At the same time, flags at the lower end of the Grey List should be careful not to neglect control over their ships and risk ending up on the Black List next year.
Also read: Netherlands back as runner-up on port state control performance list
2025 list versus 2024 list
Regarding the flag state performance list for 2022 (published in June 2023), a total number of 66 flags were listed: 39 on the White List, 18 on the Grey List and 9 on the Black List. In 2024, the list contained 71 flag states: 42 on the White List, 17 on the Grey List and 12 on the Black List. This year, 69 flags have been listed: 40 on the White List, 17 on the Grey List and 12 on the Black List.
Denmark was unable to hold on to the top spot where it had been for the past two years and now ranks second. France scored the best results over the past year en jumped from 11 to the top spot. Same as last year, Norway completes the top 3. New in the top 10 are the Cayman Islands (up from 17) and Luxembourg (up from 19).
The top ten is completed by (with last year’s ranking in brackets):
4. The Netherlands (2)
5. Singapore (4)
6. Cayman Islands (17)
7. Finland (6)
8. Italy (5)
9. Luxembourg (19)
10. Japan (7).
United Kingdom, Ireland and the Bahamas have disappeared from the top 10 dropping from 8 to 18, 9 to 23 and 10 to 16 respectively.
New on the White List and up from Grey is Egypt, which now ranks fortieth (up from 50). Saudi Arabia (from 38 to 41), the Russian Federation (from 36 to 47) and Croatia (from 37 to 42) switched the other way and are now found on the Grey List. Algeria improved its performance and has moved from the Black List to the Grey List (63 to 53). Saint Kitts and Nevis ranked 59 last year, but 58 this year, but still ended up on the Black List this year down from Grey.
Black List
The Black List is categorised in flag states posing a Medium, Medium to High or Very High Risk. Saint Kitts and Nevis, Togo, Palau, Guinea-Bissau (new to the list) fall into the first category. Belize, Vanuatu, and Ukraine end up in the Medium to High Risk category.
Comoros is the only country in the High Risk category. Vietnam (43 inspections, 12 detentions), the Republic of Moldova (32 inspections, 10 detentions), United Republic of Tanzania (149 inspections, 41 detentions) and Cameroon (144 inspections, 43 detentions) conclude the Black List and are categorised as Very High Risk flag states. Cameroon has ended up in last postition for several years now.
Also read: Netherlands loses runner-up spot on Port State Control performance list to Italy
Most deficiencies involve ISM
The Paris MoU has also listed the top 5 of deficiencies encountered, which stayed the same compared to last year. The number of deficiencies encountered increased in all categories. Topping the list are deficiencies related to the International Safety Management (ISM) Code. Last year, a Concentrated Inspection Campaign on fire doors took place, which may also account for the increase in deficiencies found.
Also read: Paris MoU fire door inspections: 13.9% non-compliant
RO performance
For several years the Committee has closely monitored the performance of recognised organisations (ROs) acting on behalf of flag states. To calculate the performance of ROs, the same formula to calculate the excess factor of the flags is used. A minimum number of sixty inspections per RO is needed before the performance is taken into account for the list. For 2024, 29 ROs have been included in the performance list.
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), DNV and Lloyd’s Register make up this year’s top three (last year: ABS, DNV and the China Classification Society). Similar to last year, only two ROs performed “Low”: the International Register of Shipping and Hellas Naval Bureau of Shipping.
