General Cargo Ship PRIMA Detained in Valletta After Inspection

The general cargo/multipurpose vessel PRIMA (IMO 8422010) has been detained at the Maltese port of Valletta following a Port State Control inspection under the Mediterranean Memorandum of Understanding (Med MOU). The inspection, carried out on 25 Feb 2026, identified 28 deficiencies in total, of which 25 were classified as detainable. The PRIMA, flying the flag of Germany (GM) and measuring 1,559 gross tonnage, is managed under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code by Kinisis Navigation SA. The high number of detainable deficiencies points to serious shortcomings across multiple safety or operational areas aboard the vessel, though the specific categories of deficiency have not been detailed in the inspection record. Under Port State Control procedures, a detention order prevents a vessel from sailing until the flag state administration or a recognised organisation confirms that the identified deficiencies have been rectified and the ship meets applicable international safety, pollution prevention and seafarer welfare conventions. The case will be logged in the Med MOU database, which tracks detentions to assess the performance of flag states, classification societies and shipping companies operating in the region. No further details regarding the nature of the deficiencies or the vessel's release have been disclosed at this time.