Liberian Ship Registry

Norwegian Owners Welcome Back Liberian Registry

The Norwegian Shipowners' Association (NSA) has lifted its recommendation not to use the Liberian ship registry, which has been in effect since 2001. The NSA says, “The basis for normalising the NSA's position on the Liberian registry includes the positive developments in Liberia, the position of the UN and the Norwegian authorities, and the increased transparency concerning financial transactions between the registry and the Liberian authorities.” In late 2001, the NSA recommended its members not to use the Liberian registry until the country “answered the UN's call for increased transparency surrounding cashflows from the country”. In addition, the NSA noted at that time that “the UN Security Council has adopted a number of resolutions on the situation in Liberia …” The NSA says, “The Norwegian authorities have now recognized the positive developments in Liberia, not least by upgrading the Norwegian diplomatic presence in the country, cancellation of debts and providing assistance for reconstruction. On this basis, and because the Liberian registry has met the requirements of increased transparency concerning financial transactions between the registry and the Liberian government, the board of the NSA has found it appropriate to lift the recommendation to its members not to use the Liberian ship registry.”

Liberian Registry Opens Maritime Security Department

The Liberian Registry has opened a fully staffed maritime security department as part of its ongoing commitment to improving security in the international shipping industry. The maritime security department will help shipowners, operators and managers with the implementation of the new International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code. It will also be responsible for the approval of each ship's security plan and for co-ordination of the Liberian Registry's

Liberia Signs Agreement with U.S. to Suppress WMD Proliferation by Sea

The Governments of Liberia and the United States have signed a landmark cooperation agreement covering measures to suppress the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and associated delivery systems and materials carried on vessels. The Liberian Registry is the first ship registry to put in place the Proliferation Security Initiative, an international initiative to prohibit the spread of illegal weapons of mass destruction. The US-Liberia accord

Liberian Registry Applauds Ukraine Boost for Tanker Owners

The Liberian Registry welcomes the action recently taken by the Ukrainian government to reduce port costs for Liberian-flag ships, which will help tanker owners and raise standards in the Black Sea trades. The Ukrainian Government Order No.1069 of 17 July 2003 cancelled the different tonnage dues tariffs for vessels flying favored and non-favored flags. Tonnage dues are now the same for both categories. The effect of the change was to

Liberian-Flag Fleet Doubles in 10 Years

The Liberian-flag fleet posted record growth figures in 2010 and has now doubled in size in the ten years since the management of the Liberian Registry was assumed by the US-based Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR). The Liberian-flag fleet was boosted by 586 new registrations last year. Of these, 149 were newbuildings. Net growth was 338 vessels, aggregating 13.6m gt. The average age of the 586 new registrations was 5.46 years, compared to the 17

Liberia Sets Ship and Tonnage Records

The Liberian Registry celebrated the end of 2007 having achieved a major milestone in its history when its vessel count reached 2,665 and its aggregate gross tonnage peaked at 82,165,902. This comfortably surpasses the previous record of 2,617 ships and 81.5m gt, which was achieved in the period between 1975 and 1979. The Liberian Registry is one of the world’s largest and most active shipping registers, with a long-established track record of combining the highest standards for vessels and

LISCR Appoints Managing Director in Japan

The Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry, has appointed Shigeki Fukuda to head up its dedicated office in Tokyo as increasing numbers of Japanese shipowners and operators elect to flag their vessels with Liberia. Shigeki Fukuda is a vastly experienced and knowledgeable shipping executive. He spent 37 years with Japanese shipowner Daiichi Chuo Kisen Kaisha, part of the Sumitomo group of companies

Liberian Registry Launches Internet-Based Inspection

The Liberian Registry has launched a unique Internet-based vessel inspection application based on technology developed by the Wallem Group. The Internet-based inspection application will allow inspectors to compile inspection reports during annual safety inspections and will create a historical database of the vessel's condition. This secure database will be confidential to the registry and the relevant shipowner. Owners will however be offered the option of providing the vessel's condition

LISCR Offers Security Support to Congress

LISCR, the company which manages the Liberian Registry, has pledged its full support to the US Congress to improve security measures for ships visiting US ports. LISCR also identified security measures it has already implemented as a leading ship registry. Addressing the Special Oversight Panel on the Merchant Marine of the Armed Services Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives today, Yoram Cohen, CEO of LISCR said, "We stand ready to assist the Coast Guard or other U.S

LISCR Welcomes International Support for Liberia's Recovery

The Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-headquartered operator of the Liberian ship register, has welcomed pledges of international support - many of them from major shipowning nations - for the reconstruction of Liberia. At the International Reconstruction Conference on Liberia, held at United Nations Headquarters in New York last week, a total of $520 million was pledged to help Liberia meet a host of reconstruction and humanitarian needs