The ICS Shipping Industry Flag State Performance Table brings together data regarding the performance of flag states against specific criteria over the previous 12 months, including port state control (PSC) records, ratification of international conventions and IMO meeting attendance.

The world’s commercial ships operate in accordance with a comprehensive regulatory framework under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and detailed Conventions – regulating maritime safety, environmental protection and seafarers’ training and employment conditions – adopted by the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). Under these global Conventions, it is flag state administrations which have primary responsibility for enforcing implementation and full compliance by ships, that sail under their flag, with IMO and ILO standards and regulatory requirements, augmented by a sophisticated global system of port state control.

Because shipping is a global industry, most shipping companies with ships in international trades have a choice with respect to the flag state with which they elect to register their ships. However, while there may be advantages to selecting a particular flag, it is vitally important that shipping companies have as much information as possible about flag state performance and are actively discouraged from choosing to use flag states that may not fully meet their international obligations.

This is the purpose of the ICS Flag State Performance Table which has been updated annually for over 20 years using objective externally published data.

The Flag State Performance Table seeks to encourage shipowners and operators:

• To examine whether a flag state has sufficient substance before using it.
• To put pressure on their flag administrations to effect any improvements that might be necessary, especially in relation to safety of life at sea, the protection of the marine environment, and the provision of decent working and living conditions for seafarers.

Current ICS Flag State Performance Table

Previous ICS Flag State Performance Tables