Flag States

Flag states: FAQ

What is a flag of registry?

A flag of registry is the country under whose laws a merchant ship is registered. The flag administration is responsible for safety, environmental, and labour standards on the vessel, even when the ship is owned in another country. The largest open registries — Liberia, Panama, Marshall Islands — register foreign-owned ships under their flag and account for most of the world fleet.

What is the MLC 2006?

The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 is the International Labour Organisation's principal worker-protection treaty for seafarers, in force since 2013. MLC covers minimum age, employment contracts, hours of work and rest, wages, repatriation, medical care, and complaint procedures. A flag's ratification status determines which complaint routes are available to seafarers on its vessels.

What do Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU ratings mean?

Paris MoU (covering Europe + North Atlantic) and Tokyo MoU (covering Asia-Pacific) are regional port-state-control regimes that classify flags by inspection and detention history. White-list / low-risk flags face fewer inspections; black-list / high-risk flags face more. The ratings are revised annually.

What is the ITF FoC list?

The International Transport Workers' Federation Flag of Convenience list identifies registries where the ITF judges there to be minimal genuine link between the registered flag and the beneficial owner of the vessel. FoC listing makes ITF inspector intervention available in major ports and triggers the ITF minimum-wage benchmark for crews on ITF-affiliated agreements.

How do I file an MLC complaint?

Under MLC 2006, complaints can be lodged with the flag administration (every MLC-ratified flag must have a published complaint procedure), the port-state authority at the next port of call, the ITF, or a seafarer welfare organisation. Keep contract, wage records, and seaman's book ready. The welfare centres listed in our /centers directory can act as advocates.