Recently the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has published its annual Shipping Industry Flag State Performance Table. The criteria of flag state performance are as follows: port state control, ratification of major international maritime treaties, use of recognized organizations complying with A.739, age of fleet, reporting requirements and attendance at IMO meetings. Green squares suggest positive performance indicators, with potentially negative performance highlighted by Red squares.
ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe remarked “The very largest flag states, such as the Bahamas, Liberia and the Marshall Islands, as well as Hong Kong, Singapore, Cyprus and Greece, all continue to demonstrate very impressive levels of performance, as do all of the other large European and Asian flags.”
“One area on which we would like to see more progress by certain flag states, including some of those with otherwise better performance, is with respect to ratification of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention” said Mr Hinchliffe.
“But following the entry into force of the MLC it is now being enforced worldwide through Port State Control and the vast the majority of international shipping companies are operating in compliance, with the exception of the official flag state certification.”