Sao Tome-Flagged Vessel Detained at Lianyungang Port

The vessel HONG CHENG YUN 902 (IMO 1195852) has been detained at the Chinese port of Lianyungang following a Port State Control inspection under the Tokyo MOU regime. The inspection, carried out on 01 Sep 2026, identified 10 deficiencies in total, of which 5 were classified as detainable, prompting authorities to hold the vessel in port. The ship, flagged in Sao Tome and Principe, is registered under the category of Other special activities. It has a gross tonnage of 2,990 and a deadweight of 4,991 DWT, placing it among smaller specialized vessels operating in the region. Port State Control inspections under the Tokyo MOU framework are designed to verify that foreign-flagged vessels calling at member ports comply with international safety, environmental and labour conventions. Detention is imposed when inspectors find deficiencies serious enough to pose a risk to the safety of the ship, its crew, or the marine environment, and the vessel is not permitted to sail until the issues are rectified and verified by authorities. No further details have been released regarding the specific nature of the deficiencies identified or the expected timeline for the vessel's release. Further updates are expected as the case progresses through the Tokyo MOU inspection process.