ICS Report Confirms High Compliance Among World’s Largest Flag States

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has released the latest edition of its Flag State Performance Table, reaffirming the high compliance levels of the world’s largest flag State administrations.

The report shows the continued high standards maintained by the largest flag states while introducing assessments of smaller, emerging registries that have raised concerns about global regulatory compliance.

According to the latest ICS Table, the world’s largest flag states, including Greece, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Liberia, Malta, the Marshall Islands, and Singapore, uphold international maritime regulations.

These nations account for 53% of the global fleet, showing strong adherence to international safety, environmental, and labour standards.

Major flag states, including the Bahamas, China PRC, and Panama, have also reaffirmed their commitment to global maritime regulations.

For the first time, the ICS table includes four new flag states- Cambodia, Eswatini, Gabon, and Guinea Bissau- following a recent increase in shipping tonnage registered under their administration.

Reports suggest some shipping may be using these registries to bypass U.S., EU and G7 sanctions.

The emergence of Eswatini as a flag state is a matter of concern as it is not a member of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and, thus, not a signatory to its maritime conventions.

ICS Secretary General Guy Platten urged Eswatini and other new registries to prioritise IMO membership and adopt international maritime conventions to ensure responsible oversight of their fleets.

“For more than 50 years, shipping has operated under global rules. It is vital that flag states adhere to their obligations to enforce the highest safety standards.” Platen said.

He encouraged shipping companies to carefully consider flag state performance when making registration decisions.

Importance of Flag State Compliance:

Shipping plays an important role in global trade, accounting for about 90% of worldwide commerce. Under frameworks like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and regulations set by the IMO and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), flag states bear the responsibility for ensuring ships under their registry comply with international safety and environmental regulations.

The ICS Flag State Performance Table, updated annually for over 20 years, provides an essential resource for ship owners and operators, helping them evaluate flag state performance based on objective data.

Key assessment factors include:

Port State Control (PSC) Performance: Evaluates the effectiveness of flag state enforcement through PSC inspections by the Paris and Tokyo Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and the U.S. Coast Guards Qualship 21 program.

Ratification of major maritime treaties: Examines whether flag states have ratified core international conventions governing safety, labour conditions, and environmental protection.

Recognised Organisations (RO) Compliance: Identifies flag states that adhere to the IMO RO Code and utilise high-performing classification societies for ship inspections.

Fleet Age Distribution: Analyses the average age of registered ships, which can serve as an indicator of fleet quality.

Regulatory Reporting and IMO Participation: Assess flag states’ engagement in IMO meetings and compliance with reporting obligations.

ICS strongly urges shipowners to carefully examine flag state performance before choosing a registry.

Reference: ICS

Source: Maritime Shipping News