Tokyo MOU

The Tokyo MOU, also known as the Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control in the Asia‑Pacific Region, is a cooperative framework that brings together maritime authorities from across the Asia‑Pacific to promote safe, secure and environmentally sound shipping. Its principal function is to coordinate port State control inspections of foreign‑flagged vessels calling at member ports, thereby helping to detect and eliminate substandard ships that pose risks to safety, navigation or the marine environment. To support this work the organisation operates the Asia‑Pacific Computerized Information System (APCIS), a shared database that stores inspection results, ship particulars and detention information, and that enables member authorities to target high‑risk vessels and exchange data in near real time. The MOU’s services are directed at port State control administrations, shipping companies, classification societies and other maritime stakeholders who rely on its inspection data and guidance to comply with international conventions such as SOLAS, MARPOL and the STCW. By harmonising inspection procedures and fostering information sharing, the Tokyo MOU seeks to raise overall safety standards throughout the region’s maritime trade routes.

The Tokyo MOU is distinguished by its regional focus and its role as an implementing mechanism for global maritime regulations within the Asia‑Pacific, setting it apart from classification societies or ship operators. Its notable competency lies in the management and continuous development of APCIS, which after the cyber‑attack of 1 July 2022 that compromised the system and caused a multi‑week outage, prompted a renewed commitment to strengthen cybersecurity resilience and to restore data integrity. The incident highlighted the importance of the system for port State control operations, including ship‑selection, transmission of inspection data and industry access to PSC information, and led to concrete measures aimed at preventing recurrence. Structurally, the Tokyo MOU is an intergovernmental agreement administered by a secretariat located in Tokyo, Japan; it has no parent company or subsidiary structure, and its authority derives from the consensus of its member maritime administrations. This governance model allows the organisation to act as a neutral coordinator while respecting the sovereignty of each participating state.