ICS Releases New Flag State Table Highlighting Weak Registers

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has issued its latest annual flag state performance table, offering the maritime industry a clearer picture of which ship registries may pose higher risks.

The report delivers an objective, data-based evaluation of flag state performance using measures such as Port State Control inspection records and the ratification status of key International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.

ICS assessed flag states against 19 separate criteria. Those with no more than one potential negative indicator include the ten largest flag states by tonnage as well as the five biggest open registries.

Collectively, these flags account for roughly 70% of the global commercial fleet.

Thomas Kazakos, secretary-general of ICS, urged shipowners and operators to rely on the table when selecting flag administrations.

“ICS encourages shipowners and operators to use the table to examine whether a flag state has substance and to put pressure on their flag administrations to make any improvements that might be necessary, especially in relation to safety of life at sea, the protection of the marine environment, and the provision of decent working and living conditions for seafarers,” Kazakos said.

The issue of questionable registries has attracted growing attention, with flag hopping reaching unprecedented levels and Western governments increasing scrutiny of the so-called shadow fleet.

Earlier this month, we reported that Palau’s government is moving to nationalize the Palau Open Ship Registry after sanctions were imposed on the private company previously managing the flag.

Meanwhile, Israeli maritime analytics firm Windward has estimated that nearly 300 tankers are currently operating under false flags, despite intensified efforts in recent weeks to combat the practice.

Western authorities have begun taking more direct action. The United States has seized seven tankers linked to Venezuelan trades over the past seven weeks, while France boarded a Russian aframax tanker last week in the western Mediterranean that was reportedly sailing under a fraudulent flag.

In response, several countries have become more vocal in distancing themselves from entities falsely claiming to register vessels on their behalf. Tonga, for example, issued a statement this month rejecting any foreign ship asserting it flies the kingdom’s flag. The government noted that Tonga’s international ship registry was closed in 2002 and it does not register foreign vessels engaged in international voyages.