Palau-Flagged Cargo Ship SOFICO Detained in Masan

The general cargo/multipurpose vessel SOFICO (IMO 9140504) was detained at the port of Masan following a Port State Control inspection conducted on 04 Sep 2026 under the Tokyo MOU regime. Inspectors identified 25 deficiencies during the examination, three of which were classified as detainable, prompting authorities to hold the vessel in port. The SOFICO, flying the flag of Palau, has a gross tonnage of 1,998 and is managed under the ISM Code by Ocean Rainbow Group, Ltd. Detentions under the Tokyo MOU framework are issued when inspectors find deficiencies serious enough to pose a risk to the safety of the vessel, its crew, or the environment. Vessels held under such measures are typically required to rectify the identified faults and undergo a follow-up inspection before being cleared to resume operations. No further details regarding the specific nature of the deficiencies or the vessel's anticipated release date have been disclosed. The case adds to the broader record of Port State Control actions monitored under the Tokyo MOU, which oversees compliance with international maritime safety, labour, and environmental standards across the Asia-Pacific region.