CRITERIA FOR OFFICIAL STATUS OF VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS IN PARIS MOU

TABLE OF CONTENT

The granting of any official status to an organisation, meeting the relevant criteria, is always at the sole discretion of the PSCC and the Paris MOU will retain the right at all times to withdraw the official status when the relevant criteria can no longer be met.

1. PSC Regimes Requesting Observer Status1

  1. When a PSC regime is requesting observer status, the following criteria must be met:
    1. The PSC regime has been granted official (IGO)-status at IMO;
    2. The PSC regime has a similar approach in terms of commitment and common goals as laid down in the agreement;
    3. The agreement invests demonstrably in training of PSCOs;
    4. The agreement publishes inspection data;
    5. The PSC regime has/is working towards a procedure for detention review;
    6. The PSC regime has a code of good practice;
    7. The PSC regime commits itself to non-disclosure of any documents or internal debates of the Paris MOU;
    8. The secretariat of the PSC regime is working towards the establishment of a quality management system.

  2. If it has been established that the PSC regime meets the criteria under 1.a – 1.g above observer status may be granted.

  3. Acceptance of any PSC regime for observer status must be by a unanimous decision of the PSCC and the Paris MOU will retain the right at all times to withdraw observer status when the above criteria can no longer be met.

2. Non-Member Authorities Requesting Co-operating Member Status

  1. Co-operating Member status shall not be granted to any State that is located outside the regional scope of the Paris MOU.

    Co-operating member Authorities should implement the provisions and procedures of the Paris MOU.

  2. Before Co-operating Member status is granted to any State the following criteria must be met:
    1. The applicant State should not be on the Paris MoU blacklist. In case the applicant State is on the Paris MoU blackList, the Committee may consider the applicant and grant co-operative status subject to additional conditions;
    2. A self-evaluation questionnaire, based on the qualitative criteria of the Paris MoU, must be completed and submitted for the consideration of the PSCC;
    3. If the PSCC considers that, based on the information provided in the questionnaire, the applicant State has the potential to fully meet, within the next three years, the qualitative criteria for membership contained in the memorandum, a monitoring team shall be established;
    4. The monitoring team shall visit the applicant’s State to determine whether the existing safety system is adequate and in line with the information provided on the questionnaire. All costs of the monitoring team shall be for the applicant’s account;

    In case the State seeking Co-operating Member Status is involved in the EU enlargement process, the documentary results of this process shall be made available to the Paris MOU for consideration when assessing the criteria under b, c and d, in order to avoid unnecessary duplication.

  3. When the applicant State meets the criteria under a and b above, Co-operating Member status may be granted. The Paris MOU will retain the right at all times to withdraw Co-operating status when the criteria under a and b can no longer be met.

  4. A State that has been granted Co-operating status shall submit, on a yearly basis, to the Port State Control Committee a progress report that will include the realized improvements with regard to the recommendations in the report of the monitoring team.

  5. Co-operating Member status shall normally be granted for a maximum period of three years. At the end of such period:
    1. Co-operating Member States must apply for full membership. At this time they must be in full compliance with the qualitative criteria of the memorandum. To determine whether this is the case, the PSCC may instruct the monitoring team to undertake a fact-finding mission;
    2. Co-operating Member States unable to attain full membership at the end of three years shall automatically lose their Co-operating Member status.

    The three year period may be extended by the Port State Control Committee where extenuating circumstances so warrant.

  6. Acceptance of any State for Co-operating Member status must be through a unanimous decision of the PSCC.

  7. A Co-operating Member Authority will, as of its effective date of Co-operating membership, establish a connection to the information system referred to in Annex 3 to the Memorandum. It will also gain access to training courses and seminars offered or facilitated by the Paris MoU Secretariat.

  8. A Co-operating Member Authority will sign a financial agreement for paying its share in the operating cost of the Memorandum and will, as of its effective date, pay its financial contribution to the budget as approved by the Committee referred to in 7.1 of the Memorandum. Its contribution shall amount to half that of a full member.

3. International Governmental Organisations Requesting Advisor Status2

  1. When an International Governmental Organisation is requesting advisor status, the following criteria must be met:
    1. The Organisation is to be internationally recognised;
    2. It shall not be a department / agency or similar of a Governmental Organisation already represented in the Paris MOU Committee;
    3. It should have, among its objectives, maritime safety, prevention of marine pollution by ships, improvement of seafarers’ health and working & living conditions;
    4. Submit a copy of its statutes to the Paris MOU for its circulation to the Paris MOU members for consideration;
    5. Be prepared to cooperate with the Paris MOU Committee and actively participate and advise in fields like training or other maritime safety related areas;
    6. Commit itself to non-disclosure of any documents or internal debates of the Paris MOU.

  2. Acceptance of any International Governmental Organisation for advisor status must be by a unanimous decision of the PSCC and the Paris MOU will retain the right at all times to withdraw the advisor status when the above criteria can no longer be met.

  3. The Advisor will have the right to voice their opinion in the Committee but the right to vote will not be granted. The Advisor is requested to submit a (verbal) report to every Paris MOU Committee meeting on the activities in relation with c above, and developments of the past year for information purposes.

[1] Observer Status: status for other regional Port State Control regimes.

[2] Advisor Status: status for International Governmental Organizations.

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