The Indian Ocean MoU is an intergovernmental organization for port state control (PSC) in the Indian Ocean region, recognized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as a specialized UN body. Its vision is to eliminate substandard shipping in the Indian Ocean region and maintain inter-regional cooperation and harmonization among other MoUs.

The 26th IOMOU Meeting on Port State Control was held with the participation of 20 member states, representatives of the Paris MoU, the Tokyo MoU, the Association of Asian Classification Societies, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and also virtual presence of the member of the Black Sea Region ( BS MoU) and the Riad MoU.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is among the most effective and active members of the MoU by preparing technical documents under the leadership of two correspondence working groups, Farahani said, adding that Iran also participated in 11 correspondence working groups.

This year, the Islamic Republic of Iran has prepared three technical documents, including instructions for remote technical inspections and safety inspections, he added.

Also, an analysis of a centralized inspection report on the requirements of the International Convention on Standards for the Training, Certification and Watchkeeping of Seafarers (STCW) was reported at the ninth session of the Special Committee at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization, he said.

The Secretary General of the MoU for the Indian Ocean thanked Iran as an active member in ship control and inspection, which won the award from members for reporting the most technical deficiencies for three years in a row, Farahani said.

During the first meeting of the Indian Ocean MoU Committee held in Goa in 1999, Australia, Eritrea, India, Sudan, South Africa and Tanzania, among others, signed the acceptance of the MoU. Then Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Iran, Kenya, Maldives, Oman, Yemen, France, Bangladesh, Comoros, Mozambique, Seychelles, Myanmar and Madagascar.

The Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding (IOMOU) on Port State Control (PSC) held the first preparatory meeting in October 1997 in India and the second meeting in June 1998 in South Africa.