As it does every year, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has published its Shipping Industry Flag State Performance Table. It gathers key data on flag states, evaluating them on the basis of 19 indicators. They cover performance in the various Port State Control systems, ratification of international conventions, use of certification bodies compliant with the IMO Code; fleet age; participation in IMO meetings; and audits on effective compliance with IMO conventions.
The 2023/2024 report shows that the vast majority of flag states have continued to perform well. They are responsible for the safety and environmental performance of the world’s merchant fleet.
As in previous years, a number of flag states performed well in all categories in the table. They include Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Denmark, Greece, Hong Kong (China), Japan, Liberia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Italy, on the other hand, performed well in 17 indicators. The only negative score was on the ‘USCG Target List’, the US Port State Control system. This year, our country was not able to take part in the US Coast Guard’s (USCG) Qualship21 programme, which recognizes flag administrations that have achieved excellence in maritime performance over the last three years.
In the 2023/2024 table, various flag states (including Togo, Algeria and Comoros) continue to score badly in a large number of negative performance indicators. This highlights the need to encourage ship owners and operators to examine whether a flag state has sufficient financial resources before using it.
On the plus side, a number of smaller flag states, including Costa Rica, Egypt, Mexico and Thailand, have improved their performance, with an increasing number indicators being positive compared to the previous flag state performance table.
This year saw overall improvements in flag State participation in International Maritime Organization (IMO) meetings, as well as their using organizations recognized as efficient and authorized by flag State administrations – as port state control inspection data shows – to inspect and certify ships to ensure compliance with IMO and International Labour Organization (ILO) regulations governing safety, environmental performance and labour standards.
Take a look at the Flag State Performance Table
Translation by Giles Foster
