Liberian Government News

The Liberia Maritime Training Institute (LMTI) was officially opened by Liberia President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf during an inauguration ceremony in Marshall City, Liberia, on January 5. The facility is named after John G Bestman, former Liberian finance minister and a member of the board of governors of the Central Bank of Liberia. Under the management of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), LMTI has undergone a massive renovation and facility modernization program over the past two years, resulting in the creation of a new campus and state-of-the-art facilities.

International Maritime Organization (IMO)  is helping Liberia to develop a national maritime security strategy. The initiative got underway with a week-long fact-finding exercise (14-18 August) involving senior officials from Liberian Government departments and agencies with a stake in maritime matters. Based on the findings, a proposal will be presented to Liberia suggesting the best way forward. One clear objective is to encourage collaboration and a multi-agency approach to maritime security in Liberia. Liberia is signatory to both a code of conduct dealing with maritime crime signed in Yaoundé, Cameroon in 2013 and to a memorandum…

Addressing the US - Liberia Trade & Investment Forum in New York City, APM Terminals Liberia Managing Director George Adjei points to a 30% increase in import container traffic at Liberia’s largest port as a reason for great confidence in Liberian investment. At the US-Liberia Trade & Investment Forum held on September 16th in mid-town Manhattan, Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, Joseph N. Boakai delivered a keynote address expressing confidence in Liberia’s recovery from the consequences of last year’s Ebola virus crisis and a return to positive economic growth in the West African nation of 3.8 million. Speaking on the Investing in Infrastructure panel later in the afternoon…

Scott Bergeron has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry. Bergeron joined LISCR in 2000 as Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that, he developed a wide range of experience in the shipping industry, working for shipowner/manager Laurin Maritime, for Det Norske Veritas and for the US Coast Guard, as well as gaining practical seagoing experience on a variety of different types of ship. Yoram Cohen and Adam Cohen will remain as Chairman and Executive Vice-Chairman, respectively, of LISCR.

Terminal Muelle Norte at Peru’s largest port is the latest of three expansions into new areas won by APM Terminals this year. Lima, Peru- The new 30-year concession contract for the development and operation of Terminal Muelle Norte at the Port of Callao was signed today by Peruvian President Alan Garcia and representatives of APM Terminals and local partner Central Portuária S.A.C. in the Presidential Palace in Peru’s Capital City of Lima. “Our vision is to transform Terminal…

The Norwegian Shipowners' Association (NSA) has lifted its recommendation not to use the Liberian ship registry, which has been in effect since 2001. 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”. 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.

the government from Liberia's shipping registry. funds from the Registry income. has confused LISCR with the former Bureau of Maritime Affairs in Liberia. not LISCR or the Registry. presentation to the UN Sanctions Committee. open register propaganda do not help Liberia at all. cooperative and have given the UN full disclosure. report. publicly reported auditing scheme to international standards. very highest standards of safety and security. corporate program. Commissioner-designate of Maritime Affairs, J. corporate registry being managed by LISCR. Liberia in 1999 and find it completely satisfactory and fair. agent of the maritime and corporate program. nation. prosper under the management of LISCR. Mr. relationship with LISCR. maritime program. humanitarian purposes.

The Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR) has welcomed action by the Government of Liberia to seek IMF auditing of funds from the Liberian registry. Yoram Cohen, CEO of LISCR, says, "Last week the Government of Liberia formally asked for IMF assistance to audit and ring fence revenues from the ship registry. The Government of Liberia has approached the IMF because of its experience of working with government finances, and because its independence and status will guarantee that the funds from the registry are seen to be spent in accordance with budgeted domestic policies. Cohen says, "The Liberian Registry has always been structured so that it is run by a U.S. company independent of daily Liberian politics.

The Liberian Registry has shown steady growth during 2001. registry recorded a net gain of 1.2 million gt. improves security. service offered to registry clients and underpin further growth. particularly in relation to corporate structures. new services in relation to ship registration and mortgage recording. reproduced electronically. locations. the location at which the index is physically kept, New York. world. the Electronic Transactions Law. reproductions and the security of signatures. electronic signatures. respect of a vessel which bareboat registers out of Liberia. index or in documents registered in respect of the mortgage may be made. given the status of a preferred mortgage. preferred mortgage is still in effect. construction. corporate structures. this in mind.

The Mercy Ship Anastasis has arrived in Monrovia, Liberia for her first ever visit to the war torn West African nation. At the urging of United Nations officials, the Liberian Government and the National Council of Churches, Mercy Ships will provide a full slate of specialized medical services as well as community development assistance over the next four months. Mercy Ships will offer desperately needed operations and medical procedures unavailable in Liberia such as tumor removals and cleft lip/palate repair. According to US AID, the Liberian civil war (1989-1996, 1999-2003) claimed the lives of more than 150,000 Liberians and further displaced approximately 850,000 others into refugee camps.

Three international accounting firms have submitted bids to monitor the way in which Liberian ship registry revenues are allocated for expenditure by the Liberian government. technical specifications of the proposed monitoring program. The second-stage bids, covering costs, will follow within the next 24 hours. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the European Union, the United Nations and the US embassy in Liberia, and by the governor of the Central Bank of Liberia and the country's finance minister. this week. disbursed by the Liberian government. every way possible with the successful bidder. government for having the courage to take such an initiative. transparent - ship register in the world.

Yoram Cohen, CEO of the Liberia International Ship & Corporate Registry, has described as "completely unfounded, unsubstantiated and untrue" allegations made by International Registries Inc. on May 11, 2000, pursuant to the filing of a lawsuit against LISCR in the Supreme Court of New York. "The allegations," says Cohen, "will trigger a massive counter-suit by LISCR against IRI. "LISCR is a private company operated and fully owned from the United States by U.S. nationals, completely independent of the Liberian government," says Cohen. "It complies fully with all aspects of U.S. regulatory law. Since assuming control of the Liberian Registry on January 1, 2000, LISCR has made significant gains in both its ship registration and corporate registration activities.

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) has launched a campaign to bring down the Liberian shipping flag, which it accuses of bank-rolling a savage conflict in Sierra Leone. At least one ship owner has already been shaken by the allegations surrounding the flag and says it is looking at alternatives. Liberia receives tens of millions of dollars each year from respectable ship operators such as Royal Caribbean International and Germany's Hamburg Sud, seeking a favorable commercial environment for shipping in return for cash. Royal Caribbean said it was taking the issue seriously. "We've been in discussions with the (U.S.) State Department and we're considering other alternatives," Royal Caribbean's Lynn Martenstein said.