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Flag Administration News

06 Mar 2024

Russia Oil Fleet Shifts Away from Liberia, Marshall Island Flags Amid US Sanctions Crackdown

© evannovostro / Adobe Stock

Dozens of oil tankers used by Russia have stopped sailing under the Liberian and Marshall Islands flags in recent weeks after the United States ramped up sanctions enforcement on ships linked to those registries, according to shipping data and interviews with industry and government officials.The shift reflects the close relationship between the U.S. and the flag administration companies of Liberia and the Marshall Islands, which are headquartered not in their home countries, but in Virginia, just miles from Washington D.C. and within the jurisdiction of U.S.

06 Jun 2023

LR and LISCR Award Design Approval for World’s First 22,000cbm Multi-gas Carrier

Andy McKeran, Sung-Gu Park and Panos Mitrou from LR present the Design Approval certificate at Nor Shipping 2023 (Photo: LR)

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…

23 May 2023

Cattle Offloaded from Disabled Livestock Carrier

The livestock carrier Nine Eagle suffered a major engine failure in the Port of Darwin, Australia, on May 15, while loaded with approximately 1,800 cattle.The Nine Eagle, built in 2006, is a converted general cargo ship currently flagged by Panama. The vessel was headed to Indonesia on charter for Perth-based company Livestock Shipping Services.The sourcing of parts to repair the engine is taking longer than anticipated, so the cattle were unloaded on May 21 and transported to a Pre-export Quarantine Facility where they will remain subject to biosecurity control until they can be exported.As well as animal welfare concerns, the ABC reports that the accumulation of manure onboard was a factor in the decision to unload the animals.

11 Apr 2023

US Coast Guard Warns on Vessels Wind Turbine Parts

© Phuc / Adobe Stock

The US Coast Guard Inspections and Compliance Directorate has released Marine Safety Information Bulletin 04-23 to advise mariners that an increasing number of break-bulk and retrofitted bulk carriers are arriving in the U.S. carrying wind turbine parts stowed in a manner that substantially limits visibility from the navigation bridge.In many cases, the vessels have been temporarily exempted from compliance with SOLAS 1974 Chapter V, Regulation 22, by their flag administration…

08 Sep 2022

ClassNK Grants AIP for Ammonia-fueled Ammonia Gas Carrier

(Image: Nihon Shipyard)

Classifiction society ClassNK has issued an approval in principle (AIP) for an ammonia-fueled ammonia gas carrier (AFAGC) that is currently under research and development of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), Japan Engine Corporation, IHI Power Systems Co., Ltd. and Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd.Ammonia is expected to be used as ship fuel for decarbonization since it does not emit CO2 when combusted. Meanwhile, adequate safety measures are imperative as it has been pointed out that ammonia is toxic to humans and corrosive to materials.

08 Sep 2022

DNV, HHI, AVIKUS and LISCR to Develop Autonomous Ship Technology

From left: Dohyeong Lim, CEO, AVIKUS; Won Ho Joo, CTO, HHI; Vidar Dolonen, Regional Manager Korea & Japan, DNV Maritime; Thomas Klenum, Executive Vice President, Innovation and Regulatory Affairs, LISCR (Photo: DNV)

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.

20 Sep 2021

Ecochlor Submits Filterless and Hybrid BWMS for USCG Type Approval

Ecochlor has filed an application for the EcoOne Filterless and EcoOne Hybrid ballast water management systems (BWMS) with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) for Type Approval. Image courtesy Ecochlor

Ecochlor filed an application for the EcoOne Filterless and EcoOne Hybrid ballast water management systems (BWMS) with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) for Type Approval. “This application is an amendment to Ecochlor’s existing BWMS Type Approval; it is our expectation that the EcoOne and EcoOne Hybrid will receive USCG type approval certification by the end of 2021,” said Steve Candito, CEO.“Receiving IMO Type Approval and filing the application for USCG Type Approval is a significant…

12 Nov 2020

Addressing the New IMO Guidelines for Second Generation Intact Stability

A typical effective wave slope function used in the assessment of the Dead Ship Level 2 Failure Mode, with comparison between ABS and GHS output. Image Courtesy Creative Systems/ABS

The common perception of intact stability has remained largely unchanged over the last few decades, where a vessel’s stability is evaluated using classical and static means: limits on righting arms, residual areas, and determining maximal VCG (or minimal GM) composite curves. These methods are familiar to most naval architects and are taught at a fundamental level in most naval architecture engineering programs.But repeated incidents of dynamic failure in recent decades brings question to the adequacy of classical static stability criteria to provide a complete understanding of…

14 Sep 2020

IRClass Gets USCG Nod

Arun Sharma, Executive Chairman, IRClass

Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) has received authorization as a Recognized Organization from the U.S. flag administration, a recognition which delegates authority to IRClass to undertake statutory survey and certification services on US flag ships on behalf of the administration.IRClass has its presence in the US through its office in Houston for around a decade and aims to explore additional business opportunities in the region.

10 Sep 2020

LR Awards Digital Twin Ready AiP to HHI for Gas Containment Tank

Luis Benito, LR’s Marine & Offshore Innovation and Co-creation Director (right) presents the Digital Twin Ready AiP to Seung-Ho Jeon, Executive Vice President of HHI Initial Design Division. (Photo: Lloyd’s Register)

Lloyd’s Register (LR) said it has awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) to Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for its Digital Health Management (DHM) System for a Type B gas containment tank, following a Joint Development Project (JDP) between the two parties launched in November 2019.The system, Hyundai Prismatic Independent IMO Type B Tank eXcellence (HiPIX), has been assessed by LR’s digital experts against LR’s ShipRight Procedure for Digital Compliance, resulting in HiPIX receiving Digital Twin Ready AiP.This approval sets HHI on the path to become a DHM provider to the maritime industry…

25 Jun 2020

Seaspan Completes Remote DoC Audit with DNV GL

The world’s largest container tonnage provider has become the latest vessel owner to benefit from classification society DNV GL’s remote audit capabilities, as the impact of the global COVID-19 crisis continues to spur the increased use of remote survey services globally.Under a Hong Kong flag special authorization, DNV GL, together with representatives from Seaspan Corporation, carried out a remote Document of Compliance (DoC) audit of the company’s Safety Management System (SMS).According to DNV GL, the Hong Kong flag administration gave the classification society the go-ahead to perform the Seaspan DoC audit on behalf of Hong Kong flag after having become familiar with its process and capabilities from a series of remote audits completed in recent months.“With more than 18…

21 Apr 2020

ABS Offering Most Annual Class Surveys Remotely

© Jelle van der Wolf / Adobe Stock

As remote surveys increasingly become business as usual, classification society ABS says it is now able to conduct nearly all annual surveys remotely on eligible vessels, after moving to further expand its remote offerings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Launching 10 additional remote survey options today, ABS says it now offers a total of 28 surveys and audits able to be delivered remotely.“The industry is telling us they want our services delivered remotely, particularly in the current challenging environment…

17 Jun 2019

New Scrubber Service Station at Portland Port

Photo courtesy of Intermarine UK

Intermarine UK struck an agreement with a Chinese manufacturer to make the Port of Portland one of the UK’s centers for scrubber installation.Intermarine President Slawomir Kalicki signed the agreement at Norshipping in Oslo with counterpart DB Wang deputy general manager of the Shandong Pure Ocean Technology based in Renhe Town in the Shandong province. The deal will see Intermarine act as an agent to Shandong and offer to install its scrubber systems to a wide variety of vessels to help them meet tough new environmental regulations.

17 May 2019

LR Gets Italian RO Status

The maritime classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) has been awarded recognized organization status by the Italian flag administration and is now authorized to issue statutory certification on its behalf to all seagoing ships sailing with the Italian flag.In line with its new RO status, LR will establish an Italy branch of LR Group Ltd so the classification society can fully support Italy and the country’s shipowners.As LR will be authorised to work on behalf of the Italian flag Administration, owners of Italian-flagged ships will have the opportunity to work with LR for classification and consultancy services and benefit from LR’s extensive technical expertise.By having RO status…

22 Apr 2019

KR Responds to RMI Report on Stellar Daisy Casualty

Korean Register (KR), its Chairman, management and entire staff offers sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of the seafarers who tragically lost their lives due to the sinking of Stellar Daisy. KR reaffirms its commitment to investigating the causes of the sinking, sharing its knowledge and implementing any changes necessary to avoid a similar loss in the future. The factsStellar Daisy was a 266,141 dwt Very Large Ore Carrier (VLOC) owned by Polaris Shipping and flagged with the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). On 31 March 2017 whilst en route from Ilha Guaiba, Brazil to Qingdao and laden with iron ore fines, the ship sank in the South Atlantic Ocean around 1700 nautical miles from Uruguay and 1800 nautical miles from South Africa.

12 Oct 2018

ClassNK Updates Emissions Reporting Portal

Classification society ClassNK has released ClassNK MRV Portal (IMO DCS), a software service for the reporting, monitoring and verification of shipping CO2 emissions in line with the IMO DCS regulations that will come into effect in 2019.The implementation of fuel consumption data reporting regulations has been ongoing in an effort to reduce GHG emissions and the EU-MRV (European Union - Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) regulations for ships operating in the EU area began in 2018. The upcoming IMO DCS regulations require all globally operating ships over 5,000GT to collect fuel consumption data and create an annual fuel consumption…

20 Jun 2018

Maritime Cook Islands Highlights “Positive Progress” to Tokyo MOU White List

The Cook Islands flag, operated by ship registry Maritime Cook Islands (MCI), has shown positive flag state performance, as reported in the latest report on Port State Control in the Asia Pacific Region by Tokyo MOU. The data and figures were published in the new report on Port State Control in the Asia Pacific by Tokyo MOU. The Tokyo MOU is “one of the most active regional port State control (PSC) organisations in the world” and consists of 20 member authorities in the Asia-Pacific region. In the recently published report, Cook Islands reported a decrease in the number of inspections with deficiencies; from 27 in 2016 to 20 in 2017. Number of deficiencies has also seen a significant decrease from 181 in 2016 to 116 in 2017.

21 Dec 2017

USCG Releases Final Statement on El Faro Sinking

(Photo: NTSB)

The U.S. Coast Guard has released its final action memo on the loss of the S.S. El Faro and its 33 crew members during a 2015 hurricane near Crooked Island, Bahamas. In the final action memo, Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft approved the findings of fact, analysis and conclusions detailed in the Marine Board of Investigation’s Report of Investigation (ROI), essentially marking it as the official Coast Guard position on the cause of the marine casualty. failure of the Coast Guard to adequately oversee the third party in this case…

27 Nov 2017

Panama Maritime Authority Authorizes Dromon Bureau of Shipping

Panama Maritime Authority has authorized Dromon Bureau of Shipping (DBS) as a Classification Society, Recognized Organization (RO) and Recognized Security Organization (RSO) to perform class and statutory certification services on behalf of the Flag Administration. The agreement was signed by Fernando Solorzano, General Director of Merchant Marine of the Republic of Panama and Andreas Nicolaou, Managing Director of DBS. The signing ceremony took place on 24th of November 2017 at the presence of Honourable Jorge Barakat Pitty, Minister of Maritime Affairs of the Republic of Panama, Ms Yaritza Romero, Chief of Staff of Panama Maritime Authority and the top Management of DBS.

17 Nov 2017

MPA Introduces Service Enhancements and Training

More than 4,600 ships flying the Singapore flag will benefit from service enhancements to be introduced from November 2017 by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). Singapore-incorporated maritime companies will also receive assistance in the form of training on sustainability reporting. These initiatives were announced by Chief Executive of MPA, Mr Andrew Tan, at the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) Forum. Themed "Innovation in Challenging Times", this year's SRS Forum focuses on how companies could leverage on innovative practices such as Blockchain and e-certification to improve work processes. 3 Mr Andrew Tan said, "IoT, digitalisation and new technologies such as blockchain and smart drones are changing the way we work.

24 Aug 2017

Verifavia to Provide IMO DCS Services for Liberian-flagged Ships

Emissions verification company for the transport sector Verifavia said it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Liberian Registry to conduct IMO DCS and EU MRV verification services for Liberian-flagged vessels. The Liberian Registry – the second largest in the world – includes more than 4,200 vessels aggregating 150+ million gross metric tons, representing 12 percent of the world’s ocean going fleet. As part of the cooperation – the company’s first major step as an IMO DCS (data collection system) verifier –  Verifavia Shipping will leverage its existing knowledge and expertise as an independent EU Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) dual-accredited verifier to deliver streamlined and efficient verification services to Liberian-registered vessels.

28 Aug 2017

MEPC 71: Ballast Water Management Update

© Sunsinger/Shutterstock.com

Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) 71 was a very busy week and ship owners can now benefit from having a firm view of the regulatory timeline for complying with the latest global require-ments for managing the ballast water from their vessels. Unfortunately, the timeline remains very crowded and for owners with ships trading to and from the U.S., compliance is more complicated. While some deadlines were eased to reflect the fact that many dates from the original BWM Convention had lapsed while consensus was being reached…

01 Nov 2017

ABS Expands Owner Options in Italy

ABS has been authorized as a Recognized Organization (RO) for Italy, giving the organization the ability to carry out statutory reviews and certifications on behalf of the Italian Flag Administration. “This authorization strengthens our offering to Italian flag vessel owners and provides a compelling option as they consider their classification and RO partner,” says ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. Working closely with Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea and Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, this authorization allows ABS to verify compliance of Italian flag ships with the major international safety and pollution prevention programs: the International Load Line, SOLAS and MARPOL Conventions.