Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
A regional agreement coordinating port-state-control inspections, such as the Paris and Tokyo MOUs.
- Category
- Regulation and Compliance
- Abbreviation
- MOU
- Last reviewed
How it works
In the safety context, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is a regional cooperation pact under which port states share inspection data and targeting, so a ship inspected in one member port informs targeting across the region. The Paris MOU (Europe and the North Atlantic) and Tokyo MOU (Asia-Pacific) are the most prominent.
MOUs publish performance lists (white, grey and black) ranking flag states by detention record, which feed directly into how ships are targeted for inspection and into third-party risk scoring.
Where it shows up on The Maritime
Also known as: MOU, paris mou, tokyo mou.
Related terms
Port State Control (PSC)
The inspection of foreign ships in national ports to verify they meet international safety and environmental standards.
Flag State
The country in which a ship is registered, whose laws she sails under and which is responsible for her regulatory oversight.
More regulation and compliance terms
A plain-English reference definition: our own explanation of a standard shipping concept, not a licensed source or legal advice. See the full glossary or the broader maritime dictionary.
Last reviewed: .