WHAT IS FLAG STATE, PSC & HOW THEY OPERATES?

What Is a Flag State?

The Nation where a ship is formally registered is known as the flag state for that Vessel. To show their affiliation, ships fly the country's flag in which they are registered. A ship registered in India, for example, will fly the Indian flag.

Director General of Shipping (DGS) India - deals with the implementation of shipping policy and legislation to ensure the safety of life and ships at sea, prevention of marine pollution, and Control of the allied offices under its administrative jurisdiction.

Engineering Wing is one of the sections of DGS, which deals with FSI.

Flag State refers to the authority under which a country exercises regulatory control over the merchant ships, which are registered under its flag.

Around 800 ships are registered under the Indian flag.

Flag State – Every Merchant Vessel is required to be registered in some country, not necessarily in the same country where the vessel is built, or the Vessel owners belong to the same country.

Every country can have its own flag state but should have all the necessary Infrastructure including Technical & Financial Infrastructures and also it has resources to ensure Ship Owners & Ship managers & Vessels are adhering to all rules & regulations promulgated by IMO (International Maritime Organization).

Flag State has to check that IMO rules & regulations are implemented & followed with the help of the classification society & PSC (Port State Control). Rules & regulations promulgated by IMO are the responsibilities of IMO to get it implemented but unfortunately, it doesn’t check whether it's implemented or not. That job lies with the flag state to get it implemented.

UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) also provides a non-exhaustive list of duties for the Flag States to ensure the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) preventing & controlling pollution of the Maritime environment & others. Flag States also have an obligation towards MARPOL (Marine Pollution Control)

The Flag State authorizes Classification Societies to check the compliance of ships with international norms for safety & pollution prevention.

Flag State Performance Table –

There are various parameters to be checked or carried out to know about the performance of each Flag State & to do that following are involved –

What is PSC?

Port State Control - PSC is involved in inspecting ships docking at its ports to make sure those vessels adhere to international standards. A port state is referred to as a port state.

Port State Control Officers (PSCOs) conduct ship inspections for some purposes, such as:  Making sure hazardous materials are safe. Confirming that issues that were previously raised have been resolved. Examining vessels that are coming into port for the first time in a year.

Port States' Detention and Prohibitions - PSCOs have the authority to detain or ban a ship that does not meet the necessary standards. A list of vessels that have been detained or banned, along with the associated flag state and the reasons for the action, is kept up to date by each MoU.

Paris MOU Annual Report 2021 (published in 2022) - Paris MOU Whitelist, Not on Paris MOU Black List,

Tokyo MOU Annual Report 2021 (published in 2022) - Tokyo MOU Whitelist, not on Tokyo MOU Black List,

USCG Qualship 21 Qualified Flag Administrations 2022 and USCG List of Targeted Flag Administrations 2022, as recorded in USCG Port State Control Annual Report 2021. USCG Qualship 21, USCG Target List (safety).

Ratification of Conventions –

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 as amended (SOLAS 74) – includes the 1988 Protocol.

International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 as amended (STCW 78) including the 2010 amendments.

International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1978

(MARPOL 73/78) – The table includes one column for the ratification of MARPOL and its mandatory

Annexes I (oil) and Annex II (bulk chemicals); and a second column for the remaining Annex III (dangerous packaged goods), Annex IV (sewage), V (garbage), and Annex VI (atmospheric pollution).

SOLAS 74 (and 88 Protocol), MARPOL including Annexes I – II, MARPOL Annexes III-VI, LL 66 (and 88 Protocol), STCW 78, ILO MLC, CLC/FUND 92,

1. RO Code – Recognised Organizations.
2. Average Age of Vessel with respective Flag States.
3. Reports - On the latest STCW 95 Whitelist, Completed ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (ILO MLC).
4. IMO - IMO Meetings Attendance, IMO Audit Scheme

Top Flag States - Marshall Islands, Panama, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malta, Bahamas, Cyprus, etc.

Additional Flag States - Other significant flag states include:

• Greece, the Cayman Islands, the United Kingdom, Japan, Portugal, Norway, Bermuda, Liberia, Denmark, etc.

The Ship's Ensign's Function

Ensigns, usually the largest flag on board, serve as symbols of a ship's national identity. When the ship is in port, this flag is typically flown at the stern to clearly identify the flag state registration.

Selecting a Flag State
Regardless of where they live, shipowners can register their vessels with any nation. Many choose "flags of convenience," where countries provide benefits like lower taxes, simpler rules, or easier access to ports.
Vessels that wish to register must fulfill the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) requirements and present safety, construction, and equipment certifications. In order to take advantage of new incentives or in situations where ownership is transferred, shipowners can also switch their registration to a different flag state.

Shipowners, maritime operators, and anybody else involved in international shipping must comprehend the functions of flag and port states. Port states maintain international safety standards within their territorial waters, while flag states concentrate on guaranteeing compliance for their registered vessels worldwide. When combined, they provide a thorough framework for maritime regulation and safety.