Tokyo MOU & Paris MOU CIC 2026:
Dates, Topic and What to Expect

If you operate vessels calling at ports in Asia-Pacific or Europe, the 2026 Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) is the single most important PSC event in your calendar this year. The Tokyo MOU and Paris MOU are running a joint CIC on Cargo Securing from 1 September to 30 November 2026. This guide explains what the campaign is, which vessels are affected, what PSC officers will be looking for, and how to prepare before the window opens.

What is a Concentrated Inspection Campaign?

A Concentrated Inspection Campaign is a coordinated period during which Port State Control authorities across one or more MOU regions focus their inspection effort on a single, pre-announced topic. Every vessel inspected during the campaign window is assessed against a standardised CIC questionnaire in addition to the normal inspection. The combined results are compiled and published afterwards, giving regulators a global picture of fleet compliance in that area.

The key point for ship operators: during a CIC, a vessel that would comfortably pass a routine inspection can still pick up deficiencies — and in serious cases a detention — purely on the campaign topic. The PSCO works through the questionnaire item by item, in an area they might otherwise spend little time on.

Why Tokyo MOU and Paris MOU Run It Together

The Tokyo MOU covers Port State Control across the Asia-Pacific region — including major ports in China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, India and across Southeast Asia. The Paris MOU covers Europe and the North Atlantic, including the EU member states, the UK, Canada and Russia. Between them, the two regimes cover the majority of the world's significant trading ports.

Running the campaign jointly means a vessel cannot simply route around one region to avoid the questionnaire. A bulk carrier loading in Australia and discharging in Rotterdam will face the same Cargo Securing CIC at both ends of the voyage. For operators trading between Asia and Europe, the practical effect is a near-continuous campaign exposure for the full three months.

The 2026 Topic: Cargo Securing

The 2026 CIC focuses on cargo securing — the equipment, documentation, and procedures that keep cargo safely fastened for the voyage. The regulatory framework behind it is primarily the CSS Code (Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing), SOLAS Chapter VI and VII, and each vessel's own flag-approved Cargo Securing Manual (CSM).

PSC officers are expected to concentrate on five areas:

• The Cargo Securing Manual — on board, flag-state approved, vessel-specific, and current for the cargo actually carried
• Lashing and securing equipment — physical condition of rods, turnbuckles, twistlocks, chains, wires and straps against discard criteria
• Stowage and securing in practice — cargo on board secured exactly as the CSM prescribes, with correct lashing angles
• Crew familiarity — officers and ratings able to explain and demonstrate the securing arrangements for their cargo
• Documentation and records — pre-departure securing checks logged and signed for every voyage

Which Vessels Are Affected

The Cargo Securing CIC applies broadly, but the cargo types that carry the highest risk under this questionnaire include:

• Container vessels — twistlocks, lashing rods, and bridge fittings under close scrutiny
• General cargo and multipurpose vessels — heavy lifts, project cargo, and break-bulk securing
• Ro-Ro and vehicle carriers — vehicle lashings, deck securing points, and trailer stowage
• Bulk carriers carrying steel, pipes, or unitised cargo on deck or in holds
• Heavy-lift and offshore vessels with specialised securing arrangements

Even vessels that are in ballast or carrying cargo not requiring extensive securing will still have their CSM, lashing equipment inventory, and crew familiarity checked. The documentation and equipment-condition elements of the questionnaire apply regardless of what is on board at the time of inspection.

How to Prepare Before September 2026

The campaign starts on 1 September, but preparation needs to begin in the months before — equipment ordering, CSM review, and crew familiarisation cannot be done overnight at the berth. A practical pre-campaign plan looks like this:

1. Verify the Cargo Securing Manual is on board, flag-approved, and reflects the vessel's current cargo and equipment
2. Conduct a full inventory and condition survey of all lashing and securing equipment against discard criteria
3. Order replacement equipment now for anything worn, corroded, or beyond limits — before the window opens
4. Brief the cargo officer and deck crew on the CSM and run a familiarisation drill on securing procedures
5. Confirm pre-departure securing checks are being logged and signed for every voyage
6. Cross-check your most recent PSC findings so you do not walk into the campaign with open or repeat deficiencies

CIC History and What Comes Next

Concentrated Inspection Campaigns rotate topic each year, usually targeting areas where regulators see recurring weaknesses across the fleet. Recent and upcoming joint Tokyo MOU / Paris MOU campaigns:

• 2025 — Ballast Water Management: verifying BWM Convention compliance, treatment system operation, and records
• 2026 — Cargo Securing: the current campaign, 1 September to 30 November
• 2027 — Enclosed Space Entry (planned): entry procedures, atmosphere testing, rescue arrangements and drills

Understanding the rotation helps owners and managers plan ahead. A vessel that builds cargo securing into its standing procedures now will not only clear the 2026 CIC but will carry that discipline into the higher-stakes enclosed space campaign in 2027.