While the number of ships inspected has shown a steady increase over the past 2 years, the number of detained ships indicates a positive downward trend. It is  perhaps too early to report that substandard ship owners are no longer trading to the Paris MOU region, but the zero-tolerance approach of the Paris MOU is beginning to show results. Measures implemented in July of 2003 will make it increasingly difficult for “rust buckets” to operate in the region.