Liberian flag added to QUALSHIP 21

The Liberian flag has been included in the United States Coast Guard’s (USCG) QUALSHIP 21 (QS21) roster for 2019-2020. QS21 recognizes vessels and flag states which have successfully met specified safety and quality requirements and regulations when calling at ports in the United States.

Alfonso Castillero, Chief Operating Officer of the Liberian Registry, notes, “We are very pleased to have made the QS21 roster. It is recognition for the many years of work that we, our clients, ship managers, and masters and crew have put into safety training and meeting environmental standards. We have a great team of dedicated staff - good people with at-sea experience - who are working closely with vessels on compliance as they come into the US.”

To qualify for QS21, flag administrations must have a three-year Port State Control (PSC) detention ratio of less than 1.00% and be credited with 10+ PSC exams per year for the last three years. QS21 status brings advantages to vessels visiting the US. Liberia and eight other maritime nations were all new additions to the QUALSHIP 21 (QS21) & E-ZERO list this year.

Alfonso Castillero says, “The number of new additions to QS21 in 2019-2020 is fantastic recognition of the work that maritime administrations, owners, and crew have put into safety initiatives. It is also testament to the efforts of the US Coast Guard, who are often overlooked when it comes to handing out praise.

“Inclusion in QUALSHIP 21 is a great achievement for any flag, and the wider industry should celebrate the number of states making the USCG’s grade.”

The Liberian Registry has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive and innovative service to owners. Moreover, it has a well-deserved reputation for supporting international legislation designed to maintain and improve the safety and effectiveness of the shipping industry and protection of the marine environment. www.liscr.com

Liberian Registry strengthens position as safest major flag by investing in new technology

The Liberian Registry has developed a unique satellite-based Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) which has helped ensure regulatory compliance and prevent detentions in some of the world’s most active Port State Control (PSC) areas. In the process, it has contributed to Liberia being named as the best-performing major ship registry worldwide over the last three years, a period during which it has featured on all PSC White Lists and has been included in the prestigious US Qualship 21 programme. Moreover, during this same period, the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) statistics confirm that Liberia had the best detention rate amongst the largest major flag states.

The development further strengthens the leading role which Liberia has established over a number of years as the world’s most technologically innovative flag state. The CAP tracks ships when they enter selected jurisdictions and allows the registry’s risk analysis team to perform detailed reviews of vessels, their history, and the ports at which they are calling. As a result, Liberian vessels have experienced a decrease in detentions in heavily trafficked PSC regions such as China.

The CAP supplements the existing electronic services already provided by Liberia and is part of a program which adopts a uniquely proactive approach to ensuring that ships flying the Liberian flag are properly prepared for their upcoming port calls, and that any possible deficiencies are handled prior to entering port. The system is totally electronic and non-burdensome, and is provided at no extra cost to owners and managers.

Scott Bergeron, CEO of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry, says, “The Compliance Assistance Programme is just the latest in a series of technological innovations designed to make Liberia the safest and most efficient fleet afloat. Other examples of the registry’s pioneering approach to technology include the introduction of the online filing of seafarer credentials, enabling owners to save tens of thousands of dollars each year and streamlining the turnaround time for issuing seafarer documents.

“Liberia was also the first flag state to institute the electronic delivery of original documents, which has been hailed by the industry as a ground-breaking service that demonstrates that Liberia is up to speed with 21st century technology and its application to the shipping industry.

“Recently, Liberia also created an online application system that allows Liberian-flag owners and managers, as well as those from other non-party states, to receive their Wreck Removal Certificates without delay through the registry’s online portal. Liberia is also the first flag state to launch its own powerful state-of-the-art mobile application (app) to enable owners, managers and operators to communicate and interact with the registry on a round-the-clock basis.

“The Liberian Registry has always been a highly proactive flag, working tirelessly to support owners and managers. Liberia’s significant investments in technology, such as the Compliance Assistance Programme, strengthen its position as the world’s largest quality ship registry.”

The Liberian Registry is one of the world’s largest and most active shipping registers and has long been considered the world’s most technologically advanced maritime administration. It has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive service to owners.

www.liscr.com