In order to ensure the order, stability and efficiency of cooperation and interaction between the ports and the vessels they serve, about 19 countries engaged in the export and import of goods through the Indian Ocean signed a special agreement called Indian Ocean MoU. Today, this document is also known as the Memorandum of Understanding of the Indian Ocean and regulates the observance of uniform norms of interaction and cooperation between those states that signed it.

What does the Indian Ocean MOU include? What aspects and parties of cooperation govern this document? What goals are achieved when all parties to the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding adhere to the agreements?

Indian Ocean MoU - features and nuances of the official document

All participants in the Memorandum of Understanding of the Indian Ocean who participated in the development and preparation of this document are called in the memorandum itself, "bodies." This allows them and everyone who wants to familiarize themselves with the memorandum of understanding of the Indian Ocean in detail, to clearly understand who is in question, as well as how the rights, obligations and actions of the parties are distributed, according to this agreement.

The main reasons behind the creation and signing of the Indian Ocean MoU memorandum were:

(1) All parties and participants recognize that it is necessary to significantly improve the safety of the vessels and cargo they transport, as well as to ensure the quality protection of the marine environment and compliance with international maritime law for crew members of each vessel working on board for many months annually;

(2) Each party to the Memorandum noted the great strides made in this area by organizations such as IMO and ILO, but, nevertheless, additional action is required to improve the quality of working conditions and compliance with international maritime law for all crews, regardless of which flagged vessels enter Indian Ocean waters and ports;

(3) All representatives of States that have signed the document shall be mindful of the responsibility of each country that has assumed obligations to comply with international maritime law if vessels flying the flag of that State are located on the territory of the ocean itself or ports located on the coast;

4) The port control of vessels carried out under this document implies the prevention of the operation of worn and substandard vessels, to prevent accidents and, as a result, pollution of the environment in the Indian Ocean and on the coasts;

5) To avoid distortion of information and data on competition between ports located in different states, the coast of which is washed by ocean waters, port control of ships within the framework of the memorandum is not only carried out by specially trained personnel, but also receives PSC for Indian Ocean MoU, which prevents the appearance of gross errors in work and the impact of the human factor on the situation.

After the adoption of this document and its signing by all 19 participants, the parties pledged to comply with all the points and conditions set out in the memorandum, clearly and unconditionally. According to the unanimous decision, which is also reflected in the memorandum, each of the participants, for 3 years, will act as PSC for Indian Ocean MoU, exercising full verification and control of the fulfillment of the obligations undertaken, by all parties. This approach will allow not only to conduct full control over the activities of numerous ports, but also help to see the weaknesses of the memorandum.

In order for the activities of each participant who signed the memorandum to be legal, legal and reasonable, the document indicates the tools used today in the case of detention of ships whose operational characteristics are low and even dangerous, or for those types of water transport that transport environmentally hazardous goods. The detention of such vessels takes place in accordance with some international conventions, and the owner of the vessel is notified of this so that he has the opportunity to explain why such a situation occurs and eliminate all identified violations within the established time frame.

The Indian Ocean MOU website always contains up-to-date information related to updating, supplementing or amending this special agreement. Also, on the website of the Memorandum of Understanding of the Indian Ocean, announcements periodically appear on the organization of special training programs and seminars to improve the professionalism and qualifications of all employees operating in ports, owners and crews of ships, as well as everyone who monitors compliance with the points of the adopted agreement.

In the view of all parties to this important agreement, the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding is an important and effective instrument. Its use in cooperation between all countries participating in the memorandum has already allowed solving many difficulties, and in the future the memorandum will provide even more effective and stable cooperation between states.

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