United Nations Convention on Conditions for Registration of Ships

General Information

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What is it about?

This Instrument establishes the minimal international regulations on registration of ships, aiming to promote the orderly expansion of world shipping. It covers the establishment of a National Maritime Administration for each flag State, specifying its duties; the identification and accountability related to registration and ownership of ships; the manning of ships; the role of flag States in respect of the management of shipowning companies; the safeguard of the contractual rights of the parties to joint ventures between shipowners of different countries; and measures to protect the interests of labour-supplying countries and to minimize adverse economic effects.

Why is it relevant?

This Convention attempts to stop the phenomenon of registration of ships in foreign States merely for financial purposes (flags of convenience) by strengthening the link between a State and ships flying its flag.

Additional Information

This Convention has three annexes dealing respectively with measures to protect the interest of labour-supplying countries, measures to minimize adverse economic effects, and the tonnage of merchant fleets of the world.

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