Operational Guide · Registers & Logbooks

# Mediterranean MOU: Regional Specificities

Thirteen member States from 2026, with France and Albania just joined: the Mediterranean PSC regime is expanding just as detentions record a 20% increase.

Mediterranean MOU Med MoU Mediterranean detention rate

## Operational Explanation

The Mediterranean MOU (Med MoU) is the Port State Control regime for the Mediterranean region, historically made up of coastal States such as Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey. During the 27th Session of the Med MoU Committee (21-23 October 2025, Kalkara, Malta), the accession of France was ratified, effective from 1° January 2026; Albania also joined in the same year, bringing the total number of member States to 13.

The Med MoU's annual report for 2024 recorded 5,993 inspections on 4,907 individual ships, with 196 detentions — a 20% increase on the previous year. Turkey (2,483 inspections) and Egypt (1,287 inspections) contributed the highest numbers of checks. The Med MoU also confirmed its participation in the 2025 Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Ballast Water Management, conducted in coordination with other regional regimes.

## Regulatory Reference

Mediterranean MOU (Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control in the Mediterranean Region): 13 member States from 2026 (including Albania, Algeria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey), with France joining on 1° January 2026 following ratification at the 27th Committee Session (October 2025).

## Scope of Application

Every ship calling at ports of Mediterranean MOU member States, including routes now including French Mediterranean ports following the new accession from 2026.

## Procedure / How to Complete It

1. Check the updated list of Med MoU member States, including the accession of France and Albania from 2026, for routes touching Mediterranean ports.
2. Consult the most recent Med MoU annual report for detention statistics and the most frequent deficiency areas in the region.
3. Check the calendar of Concentrated Inspection Campaigns the Med MoU takes part in, including any continuation of the Ballast Water Management theme.
4. For ships regularly calling at Mediterranean ports, monitor the rising detention rate (+20% in 2024) as an indicator of greater inspection attention in the region.
5. Coordinate general PSC preparation taking into account any procedural specificities of the Med MoU compared with the Paris MOU and Tokyo MOU.

## Practical Example

Example: a Company operating container ships with regular port calls in Turkey and Egypt, the two Med MoU States with the highest number of inspections in 2024, reinforces PSC preparation on those specific routes, while also monitoring the extension of routes to the recently acceded French Mediterranean ports.

## Real Cases

The 20% rise in Med MoU detentions in 2024 (196 detentions out of 5,993 inspections), combined with the entry of new member States in 2026, signals a PSC region in a phase of consolidation and expansion: Companies operating Mediterranean routes should factor in this trend, rather than limiting themselves to monitoring only the more established Paris MOU or Tokyo MOU statistics.

## Common Mistakes Mistake Library

Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it
--- | --- | ---
Routes to French Mediterranean ports not linked to the new Med MoU regime from 2026 | PSC preparation not calibrated to the specificities of the regime applicable to that port call | Update the list of Med MoU member States relevant to your routes, including the new French accession
Rising Med MoU detention rate (+20% in 2024) not considered in PSC preparation planning | Underestimation of inspection risk on Mediterranean routes | Monitor annual Med MoU statistics alongside those of other PSC regimes relevant to your fleet
Paris MOU statistics and priorities applied uncritically to port calls in the Mediterranean Med MoU region | Preparation not calibrated to the real regional specificities | Always consult the specific Med MoU annual report, distinct from the Paris MOU's

## PSC Observations

Med MoU inspections follow targeting principles similar to the other regional regimes; the 2024 report shows a significant rise in detentions, with Turkey and Egypt as the most active member States in terms of the number of inspections conducted.

## Operational Tips

- Update the list of Med MoU member States relevant to your routes, including the accession of France and Albania from 2026.
- Monitor the rising Med MoU detention rate (+20% in 2024) as a signal of greater inspection attention in the region.
- Don't rely only on Paris MOU or Tokyo MOU statistics for Mediterranean routes: consult the specific Med MoU annual report.

## Checklist

- Updated list of Med MoU member States checked, including the 2026 accession of France and Albania
- Most recent Med MoU annual report consulted for statistics and priority deficiency areas
- Med MoU CIC calendar checked, including any joint campaigns with other regimes
- Rising detention trend (+20% in 2024) considered in PSC preparation planning
- General PSC documentation ready to standards applicable to the Med MoU regime

## FAQ

How many member States does the Mediterranean MOU have from 2026?
13 member States, following the accession of France (from 1 January 2026, ratified at the 27th Committee Session in October 2025) and Albania in the same year.
How did Med MoU detentions change in 2024?
The 2024 annual report recorded 196 detentions out of 5,993 inspections and 4,907 individual ships, a 20% increase on the previous year.
Which Med MoU member States conducted the most inspections in 2024?
Turkey, with 2,483 inspections, followed by Egypt with 1,287 inspections.
🎬 Additional photos, videos and interactive diagrams for this topic will be available in a future version of the platform.

## Related Topics

Tokyo MOU: Regional Specificities Black Sea MOU: Regional Specificities Indian Ocean MOU: Regional Specificities

### Leave feedback

Help us improve the platform during the beta -- it takes thirty seconds.

How useful do you find the platform so far?
Comment (optional)
Sign me up for the newsletter
Role