International Register of Shipping

INTLREG Circular 26-009 advises all San Marino flagged vessels operating in the Indian Ocean adjacent to the Somali Coast, West Africa, and the Malacca Strait including Rondo Island to implement Security Level 2 (SL2) measures due to increased risks of piracy, armed robbery, attempted boarding, and vessel seizure. Shipowners, Masters, CSOs, and SSOs are required to strengthen security readiness, maintain communication with regional maritime security centers, and ensure full implementation of Ship Security Plan procedures when operating within these designated high-risk areas.

INTLREG Circular 26-008 advises all San Marino flagged vessels operating within the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Northern Arabian Sea to immediately implement Security Level 3 (SL3) measures in response to the escalating regional security situation.

Shipowners, Masters, CSOs, and SSOs are required to strengthen onboard security readiness, communication protocols, contingency planning, and compliance with approved Ship Security Plans and BMP guidance.

The Circular emphasizes continuous coordination with maritime security centers and heightened vigilance to safeguard vessels, crews, and operations within designated high-risk areas.

Smaller vessels across emerging maritime markets play a critical role in transportation, trade, fishing, and community connectivity, yet they often remain underserved from a technical and compliance perspective.

INTLREG believes classification is not only about certification, but also about promoting safer operations, stronger maintenance culture, technical accountability, and long-term sustainability for domestic fleets. By supporting vessel owners and administrations across emerging markets with practical compliance solutions, INTLREG aims to strengthen maritime safety and improve the protection of lives at sea.

📜 Top 5 Compliance Gaps Shipowners Still Miss in 2026.

Despite increasing regulatory awareness across the maritime industry, many vessel operators still face recurring deficiencies during inspections and audits — often caused by preventable compliance gaps.

Here are five areas that continue to create operational and regulatory risks in 2026:

1. Statutory Certification Management
Expired, inconsistent, or improperly endorsed certificates remain one of the most common findings. Compliance is not only about having certificates onboard — it is about ensuring validity, alignment, and continuous follow-up.

2. SOLAS Safety Readiness
Fire safety systems, emergency drills, lifesaving appliances, and operational readiness continue to receive close scrutiny during Port State Control inspections.

3. MARPOL Environmental Compliance
Improper garbage management procedures, Oil Record Book inconsistencies, and emission-related deficiencies remain key areas of concern globally.

4. ISM Implementation Gaps
Many companies have documented procedures, but operational implementation onboard is often inconsistent. Safety culture cannot exist only on paper.

5. Crew Documentation & Familiarization
Incomplete certificates, expired endorsements, and insufficient crew familiarity with onboard systems continue to contribute to avoidable deficiencies.

The reality is simple:
Most detentions and deficiencies are not caused by a single major failure, but by accumulated small compliance weaknesses over time.

Strong compliance management is no longer optional. It is part of operational reliability, commercial reputation, and long-term sustainability.

📊 PMOU Detention Data: What It Doesn’t Tell You.

Port State Control detention statistics are often treated as the ultimate measure of performance in the maritime industry. But detention numbers alone rarely tell the full story.

A vessel detention is not always the result of a single technical failure — and it cannot automatically be attributed to only one stakeholder. In reality, vessel performance is influenced by a combination of operational management, maintenance culture, crew competence, flag administration oversight, trading patterns, vessel age, and owner investment decisions.

This is where the interpretation of detention data becomes important.

A Recognized Organization (RO) may verify compliance with statutory and classification requirements during surveys and audits. However, the day-to-day operational condition of a vessel remains heavily dependent on the shipowner, operator, onboard crew, and maintenance management systems.

Similarly, flag administrations establish regulatory frameworks and oversight responsibilities, while operators are responsible for ensuring continuous compliance between inspections.

Operational context also matters.
Some vessels operate in highly demanding regional trades, aging domestic fleets, remote ports, or under difficult logistical and economic conditions that directly affect maintenance planning and operational readiness.

This does not excuse deficiencies — but it highlights why raw detention statistics without context can create misleading conclusions.

Improving maritime safety requires more than comparing numbers.
It requires collaboration between owners, crews, flags, and classification organizations to build sustainable compliance and stronger operational culture across the industry.

🚢 What Actually Causes Vessel Detentions? (Beyond the Obvious)

When a vessel gets detained, the assumption is often “technical failure.” But in reality, the root causes go much deeper—and are far more preventable.

From what we consistently see in the field, most detentions are driven by three critical gaps:

1. Certification Misalignment
Not just missing certificates—but outdated, improperly endorsed, or inconsistent documentation across systems. Even small discrepancies can trigger major findings.
2. Crew Compliance & Awareness
A well-maintained vessel can still be detained if the crew is not aligned with procedures. Safety drills, recordkeeping, and familiarity with onboard systems are frequently overlooked—but heavily scrutinized.
3. Maintenance Culture (Not Just Maintenance Itself)
It’s rarely about one broken component. It’s about patterns—lack of preventive maintenance, poor follow-up on defects, and absence of structured oversight.

👉 The key takeaway: Detentions are not isolated events. They are the result of systemic gaps.

At INTLREG, we focus not only on identifying deficiencies, but on helping operators build sustainable compliance frameworks—where certification, crew readiness, and maintenance work together. Because avoiding detention is not about passing inspections. It’s about operational discipline.

Write us for more details: [email protected]

On International Women’s Day, INTLREG – International Register of Shipping celebrates the strength, professionalism, and leadership of women across the global maritime community.
Your dedication continues to shape the future of the maritime industry and inspire progress across our sector.
Happy International Women’s Day.

INTLREG Circular 26-005 highlights that entering enclosed or confined spaces remains one of the most serious safety risks in maritime operations and provides updated guidance in line with IMO Resolution MSC.581(110). The circular emphasizes that responsibility for risk assessment, atmosphere testing, permits, and rescue arrangements lies with shipowners, operators, and shipyards, while INTLREG surveyors are limited to verification and hazard awareness. It reinforces surveyors’ right to refuse entry when safety cannot be assured and calls for heightened vigilance, especially when entry is infrequent. The guidance applies to all ship types and is supported by dedicated training to strengthen awareness and compliance across the industry.

HSE SeafarerSafety SOLAS ISMCode ShippingIndustry

Enhancing Maritime Security with Approved Ship Security Plans ⚓

The Ship Security Plan (SSP) Approval service by the International Register of Shipping (INTLREG) is a critical component of maritime security compliance under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. The SSP outlines procedures and measures to prevent unauthorized access, ensure crew and vessel safety, and respond effectively to security threats. INTLREG conducts a comprehensive review of the plan, assessing security organization, access control, communication protocols, risk levels, and contingency responses.

The approval process includes verification of alignment with flag state requirements and international regulations. INTLREG’s experienced auditors work closely with shipowners and managers to ensure the SSP is tailored to the specific vessel type, operation area, and risk profile. Once approved, the plan supports smooth port state inspections and reduces the risk of detentions. By ensuring preparedness and compliance, INTLREG’s approval of Ship Security Plans helps protect assets, personnel, and cargo while promoting a secure global shipping environment.

Partner with INTLREG to ensure your ship’s security framework is robust, compliant, and ready.

Understanding SOPEP: A vital requirement for oil-carrying vessels

The Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP) is a mandatory document under MARPOL Annex I for all oil-carrying ships over 400 GT. It outlines the procedures to follow in the event of an oil spill, helping to reduce environmental impact and ensure a swift, coordinated onboard response.

SOPEP includes essential ship-specific details such as emergency contacts, crew responsibilities, oil spill response actions, and the location of onboard pollution control equipment. It also guides the crew on reporting procedures to coastal states and flag administrations.

At INTLREG, we support owners and operators in preparing and approving SOPEPs that meet international standards. Regular drills and training are key to ensuring these plans are not only compliant, but effective in real-world scenarios.

Protecting the marine environment begins with preparedness.