Oil/Chemical Tanker Bluebird Arrow Detained in Shanghai

The oil/chemical tanker BLUEBIRD ARROW (IMO 9635377) was detained by Port State Control authorities in Shanghai following an inspection conducted on 12 Sep 2026. The inspection, carried out under the Tokyo MOU regime, identified five total deficiencies, three of which were classified as detainable, prompting the port state control officers to hold the vessel until the issues are rectified. BLUEBIRD ARROW is a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker with a gross tonnage of 15,607 and a deadweight of 19,379 DWT. The vessel is managed under the ISM Code by Suntech Ship Management Pte Ltd, which bears responsibility for addressing the deficiencies identified during the inspection and ensuring the ship's compliance with applicable safety and operational standards before it can resume trading. Port State Control detentions under the Tokyo MOU framework are intended to ensure that vessels calling at member ports meet international safety, pollution prevention, and crew welfare requirements. Detainable deficiencies typically involve serious deficiencies related to structural integrity, safety equipment, or operational procedures that pose risks to the vessel, crew, or the marine environment. The vessel will remain detained in Shanghai until the identified deficiencies are corrected and verified by inspectors, at which point clearance for departure may be granted.