Liberian Flag Administration News

Lloyd’s Register (LR) and the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR) have awarded design approval to HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) for the development of the world’s first 22,000cbm multi-gas carrier as part of a joint development project for LCO2 carrier design and development. The vessel will be capable of carrying liquified carbon dioxide (LCO2), liquid petroleum gas (LPG), ammonia (NH3) and vinyl chloride…

DNV signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hyundi Heavy Industries (HHI), AVIKUS and Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR) to collaborate on autonomous ship technology developments.The Hyundai intelligent Navigation Assistant System (HiNAS 2.0) is an AI-based navigation solution that covers all steps for voyage from detection to situation analysis, planning and control. The system assists in safe navigation by displaying AR (augmented reality) images of detected ships and navigation information.

Classification society ClassNK has received authorization from the Liberian Registry to provide Liberian flagged vessels with electronic certificates for statutory surveys. ClassNK is the world’s first classification society to be authorized by the Liberian Registry to issue certificates in electronic form. In order to reduce the administrative burdens associated with the sending and onboard storing of numerous certificates, coupled with the goal of making certificate information easier to retrieve, ClassNK developed the “ClassNK e-Certificate” system.

ClassNK said it has begun operational trials for “ClassNK e-Certificate”, a comprehensive system to provide ships’ class certificates and statutory certificates issued on behalf of flag states in electronic format. The use of electronic certificates is expected to reduce the administrative burden of sending traditional paper certificates and managing them onboard, in addition to making it easier to retrieve data on the certificates, the classification society said. As part of its aims to improve the operations of shipping companies, ClassNK developed “ClassNK e-Certificate”, referring to the progress and concept implemented by the Liberian flag who have already been issuing electronic certificates worldwide.

Liberia has become the first flag state to participate in the Green Award program, under which eligible shipowners will be offered significant annual tonnage tax discounts. Green Award is a global, independent, not-for-profit quality assurance organisation which certifies ship managers and vessels that go beyond industry standards in terms of safety, quality and environmental performance. The scheme brings together ship managers who are willing to improve the safety and environmental performance of their vessels…

The Liberian Registry has concluded its investigation into the pirate-hijacking of the product tanker Kerala off Luanda, Angola, on January 18, 2014. The Liberian investigation is based on evidence gathered by an INTERPOL-led multinational Incident Response Team as well as findings of its own investigative efforts. The Liberian Administration is currently in the process of publishing its report into the hijacking of the Liberian-flagged vessel. Liberia requested the attendance of the INTERPOL Incident Response Team in Tema…

The Liberian Registry says the entry of private equity funding into the ship finance market is helping to sustain its continued growth. Scott Bergeron, CEO of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the U.S.-based manager of the Liberian registry, said, “Owners are ordering ships again, and there is a great deal of private equity funding entering the market, in the U.S. and elsewhere, which is filling the shortfall created by a reduction in traditional bank finance for shipping.

Liberia continues its active investigation of the hijacking of the Liberian-flagged product tanker, Kerala, (IMO No.: 9390927), at Luanda, Angola on January 18, 2014, and although the investigation is still ongoing, the evidence gathered thus far by the INTERPOL Incident Response Team has allowed the Liberian Registry to conclude that the vessel was hijacked by pirates. Liberia, in cooperation with the vessel owners, requested the attendance in Tema, Ghana, of an INTERPOL-led multinational Incident Response Team.