ICS highlights best and worst flag states

ICS gave flags positive or negative indicators across several factors including port state control, ratification of international maritime treaties, age of fleet and attendance at IMO meetings. While the biggest flags showed strong governance, smaller flags had “considerable work to do”.

The chamber cited flag states including Tanzania, Mongolia, Moldova, Cambodia and Sierra Leone as conspicuous examples of sub-standard registers. “[We] suggest that shipowners may wish to think very carefully about using such flags,” said ICS.

By contrast the biggest 19 flag states, representing more than 85% of the world fleet, each had three or fewer negative indicators. ICS praised the “very impressive” performance across states including the Bahamas, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Hong Kong, Singapore, Cyprus and Greece, as well as other large European and Asian flags.

“One area on which we would like to see more progress by certain flag states is with respect to ratification of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention,” said Peter Hinchliffe, secretary general, ICS. “But [the convention] is now being enforced worldwide through port state control and the majority of international shipping companies are operating in compliance, with the exception of the official flag state certification.”