Convention ratifications matrix

Bryan Flowers

Convention ratification status by flag state — SOLAS, MARPOL Annexes I-VI, STCW, MLC 2006, BWM, AFS, Nairobi WRC, and Athens Convention. Ratification is not the same as active enforcement — see per-flag PSC records for actual compliance.

Y = ratified (with year); N = not ratified. Rows: 30 major flag states by tonnage + supplying seafarer volume. Columns: 12 core conventions.

Flag	SOLAS 1974	MARPOL Annex I	MARPOL Annex II	MARPOL Annex III	MARPOL Annex IV	MARPOL Annex V	MARPOL Annex VI	STCW 1978 + Manila 2010	MLC 2006	BWM 2004	AFS 2001	Nairobi WRC 2007
Panama	1978	1988	1988	1994	2005	1994	2008	1978	2009	2016	2013	2016
Liberia	1978	1980	1980	1990	2005	1990	2005	1978	2006	2010	2008	2015
Marshall Islands	1994	1994	1994	1994	2011	1994	2013	1995	2011	2013	2014	2015
Hong Kong (China)	1997	1997	1997	1997	2004	1997	2009	1997	2018	2017	2009	N
Singapore	1974	1990	1990	1994	2005	1994	2008	1988	2011	2017	2010	2017
Bahamas	1976	1983	1983	1994	2005	1994	2008	1982	2008	2014	2010	2015
Malta	1978	1986	1986	1996	2003	1996	2008	1978	2013	2016	2007	2018
Cyprus	1988	1989	1989	1996	2003	1996	2008	1988	2012	2015	2010	2018
China	1980	1983	1983	1994	2006	1994	2006	1981	2015	2019	2011	2017
Greece	1980	1982	1982	1995	2007	1995	2011	1982	2013	2017	2013	2016
Japan	1980	1983	1983	1994	2003	1994	2005	1982	2013	2014	2003	2014
United Kingdom	1980	1983	1983	1994	2006	1994	2005	1980	2013	2017	2010	2014
United States	1976	1980	1980	N	N	1988	2008	1991	N	N	N	N
Norway	1976	1980	1980	1994	2003	1988	2007	1980	2009	2007	2007	2015
Denmark	1978	1982	1982	1994	2006	1994	2010	1980	2011	2012	2010	2015
Germany	1979	1982	1982	1994	2003	1994	2009	1982	2013	2015	2008	2014
Netherlands	1978	1983	1983	1997	2005	1997	2011	1980	2011	2010	2007	2016
India	1976	1990	1990	1997	N	1997	2016	1982	2015	N	N	N
Philippines	1978	2001	2001	2007	2007	2007	2018	1984	2012	2018	2010	N
Indonesia	1980	1986	1986	N	2016	2016	2016	1987	N	N	N	N
Korea (South)	1980	1984	1984	1996	2003	1996	2008	1984	2014	2008	2007	2017
Australia	1978	1988	1988	1997	2005	1997	2007	1978	2011	2018	2013	2016
Italy	1980	1983	1983	1998	2005	1998	2009	1982	2013	2017	2010	2018
France	1977	1983	1983	1995	2006	1995	2009	1981	2013	2008	2008	2015
Turkey	1980	1990	1990	2016	N	2016	2016	1990	2017	N	2013	N
Malaysia	1980	1997	1997	2010	N	2010	2013	1997	N	N	N	N
Brazil	1980	1988	1988	2007	N	2007	2018	1985	2020	2010	N	N
Russia	1980	1983	1983	1994	2007	1994	2006	1980	2012	2013	2010	2016
Saudi Arabia	1996	2005	2005	2007	N	2007	2010	2001	N	N	N	N
United Arab Emirates	1988	2007	2007	2007	N	2007	2007	2001	N	N	N	N

Notes on the matrix

Ratification ≠ enforcement. A flag may be a party to a convention without effectively enforcing it. See per-flag Paris + Tokyo MoU records for actual compliance evidence.
US has not ratified MLC 2006, BWM, AFS, or Nairobi WRC. The US applies equivalent domestic regulations in many cases but has not formally ratified. Practical implication: US-flag vessels are not covered by MLC A2.5.2 abandonment mechanism.
India, Indonesia, Malaysia have limited MARPOL Annex IV (sewage) ratification. Enforcement is patchy in these major seafarer-supplying nations.
MLC 2006 non-ratification does not exempt shipowners. Vessels flying non-MLC flags calling MLC-party ports face "no-more-favourable-treatment" inspections.

Sources + related

· IMO — Status of Conventions (public treaty-status database).
· ILO NORMLEX — MLC 2006 ratification tracker.
· STCW certifying bodies directory
· MLC 2006 financial-security providers