T O K Y O M O U S E C R E TA R I AT
Ascend Shimbashi 8F
6-19-19, Shimbashi, Minato-ku
Tokyo 105-0004
Japan

Tel: +81-3-3433-0621
Fax: +81-3-3433-0624
E-mail: secretariat@tokyo-mou.org
Web site: www.tokyo-mou.org

PRESS RELEASETOKYO MOU REVISING THE GUIDANCE FOR DEALINGWITH IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC OF THE COVID-19
For dealing with the impact of the outbreak of COVID-19 in a pragmatic andharmonized approach in the region, Tokyo MOU adopted the relevant guidance on 12March 2020 for port State Authorities to apply pragmatic relaxation on requests forextending periods of service onboard of seafarers, delaying periods for surveys,
inspections and audits on a case-by-case basis. In accordance with the guidance,
port State Authorities would accept the period of grace for delaying surveys,
inspections or audits extended by flag State Administration and/or RO up to threemonths from the middle of January 2020 (starting of the outbreak of COVID-19).
Taking into account that serious interruptions to the shipping industry become
long-lasting as the consequence of the COVID-19 situation changed from epidemic
into the world pandemic, Tokyo MOU reviewed and revised the relevant guidance inorder to cope with the uncertain circumstances.
Noting that no end sign of the situation can be expected at the moment, the guidanceis revised to allow port State Authorities to apply the pragmatic relaxation for an
appropriate grace period for delaying periods for surveys, inspections and audits
specific to COVID-19 given to ship by the flag State Administration and/or RO. The
revised guidance will be effective from 15 April 2020.
The guidance may be further reviewed upon any future initiatives IMO/ILO ordevelopments of the situation.

10 April 2020

Contact

Tokyo MOU Secretariat
Ascend Shimbashi 8F
6-19-19, Shimbashi
Minato-ku, TokyoJapan 105-0004
Telephone: +81-3-3433 0621
Facsimile: +81-3-3433 0624
E-mail: secretariat@tokyo-mou.org
Web-site: www.tokyo-mou.org

Notes to editors:* The Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control in the Asia-Pacific Region,
known as the Tokyo MOU, was signed among eighteen maritime Authorities in the region
on 1 December 1993 and came into operation on 1 April 1994. At present, Tokyo MOU
consists of 21 member Authorities: Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Fiji, Hong Kong(China), Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, New Zealand,Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Singapore,Thailand, Vanuatu and Viet Nam. Mexico adheres to the Tokyo MOU as a co-operating
member Authority. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Macao (China), Samoa,Solomon Islands, Tonga, the United States Coast Guard, the International Maritime
Organization, the International Labour Organization and the Secretariats of the Paris, theIndian Ocean, the Black Sea, the Riyadh, the Caribbean and the Abuja Memoranda ofUnderstanding on Port State Control and the Viña del Mar Agreement are associated withthe Tokyo MOU as observers.
The Secretariat of the Memorandum is located in Tokyo, Japan. The PSC databasesystem, the Asia-Pacific Computerized Information System (APCIS), was established. The
APCIS center is located in Moscow, under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport of theRussian Federation.
Port State Control (PSC) is a check on visiting foreign ships to verify their compliance withinternational rules on safety, security, marine environment protection and seafarers living
and working conditions. It is a means of enforcing compliance in cases where the ownerand flag State have failed in their responsibility to implement or ensure compliance. Theport State can require defects to be put right, and detain the ship for this purpose if
necessary. It is therefore also a port State’s defense against visiting substandard shippingand PSC is the second defense for ensuring safety, security, marine environment
protection and seafarers living and working conditions.