Bulk Carrier DEFENDER Detained at Vancouver After Inspection

The bulk carrier DEFENDER (IMO 9949663) has been detained at the port of Vancouver following a Port State Control inspection under the Tokyo MOU regime. The inspection, carried out on 27 Aug 2026, identified 18 total deficiencies aboard the vessel, of which 13 were classified as detainable. The Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier has a gross tonnage of 43,672 and a deadweight of 82,680 tonnes. The ship is managed under the ISM Code by Hisamoto Kisen Co Ltd, which holds responsibility for addressing the deficiencies identified during the inspection before the vessel can be released. Under Tokyo MOU procedures, vessels found with detainable deficiencies are held in port until the issues are rectified and verified by inspectors, ensuring the ship meets international safety, pollution prevention and crew welfare standards before resuming trading operations. The high number of deficiencies recorded during this inspection points to multiple areas of non-compliance requiring correction. No further details on the specific nature of the deficiencies or an expected release date have been disclosed. The case adds to the record of vessels detained under the Tokyo MOU framework, which monitors ship safety and compliance across the Asia-Pacific region.