A new set of guidelines to improve transparency and due diligence in ship registration, as well as prevent fraudulent registrations and a misuse of flags, has been approved by the International Maritime Organization’s Legal Committee.
The IMO said that that there is a regulatory gap in the global maritime industry owing to a lack of a binding international framework to regulate the registration of ships.
“This is a welcome step towards ensuring due diligence in ship registration systems for the benefit of safety, protection of the marine environment and the well-being of seafarers, essential for the safety and security of international shipping. The Guidelines will also aid in eliminating cases of fraudulent registration,” IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez.
The new Guidelines focus on:
- Legislation governance and control on who can perform registration of ships
- Procedures for quality assurance in ship registration
- Due diligence on ownership and ship identification
- Due diligence on ship identity and eligibility checks
- Information sources and information sharing
The IMO’s Legal Committed noted that nearly 40 countries had seen cases of their flags being fraudulently used by criminal groups without the knowledge or consent of the Member States. The Legal Committee also noted that the number of ships flying a false flag stood at 529 ships in the past year.
