The 2023/2024 Shipping Industry Flag State performance table, published by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), indicates continuing positive performance by the vast majority of Flag States which are responsible for the safety and environmental performance of the world’s merchant ships.
It is strongly emphasised by ICS that the age of an individual ship is not an indicator of quality, and that the condition of an individual ship is ultimately determined by how it is maintained.
– The new Flag State Performance Table shows an increase in positive performance indicators amongst smaller Flag States.
– Flag States that have a majority of negative indicators highlights the need to encourage shipowners and operators to examine whether a Flag State has sufficient substance before using it.
– Ship operators in dialogue with maritime Administrations are recommended to use the Table to identify areas for further improvement over the next twelve months.
– The Table is intended to encourage shipowners to maintain a dialogue with their flag States, and help facilitate any necessary improvements in the interests of safety, environmental protection and decent working conditions.
In the 2023/2024 Table, a number of Flag States continue to record large amounts of negative performance indicators, highlighting the need to encourage shipowners and operators to examine whether a Flag State has sufficient substance before using it.
The Shipping Industry Flag State performance table now also identifies those flags whose ships suffered no detentions within a particular PSC region over the previous three years, but did not meet the relevant minimum requirement of inspections or arrivals to be included in the MOU white lists/ Qualship 21 program. In order to be identified in this way with respect to the Paris and Tokyo MOU white lists, a flag must have undergone at least one inspection in the previous three years. With respect to the Qualship 21 program, a flag must have made at least three distinct arrivals in each of the previous three years. As regards the USCG Target List, flags which are listed as ‘Medium Risk’ on the list are identified with a neutral indicator. This is in alignment with the way in which the three PSC authorities present this information.
Dwnload the pdf table: Flag state performance table 2023/24