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For instance, an American-run ship catering almost exclusively for the American market, but flying the Liberian flag? If the shooting starts, whose side are they obliged to be on?
It's been going on for years!
Take Carnival, or Disney. They have no "heritage" outside the US so no reason to register in any European country (and would likely not even be ALLOWED to). The US register is simply NOT practical. They really have no choice but to use Panama or the Bahamas.
Note that Carnival's Italians ships (Costa) are registered in Italy, their British ships (Cunard, P&O, Princess, etc.) are registeredin Britain (or Bermuda or Gibraltar), their Dutch ships (HAL) are (mostly) registered in the Netherlands, but their American ships (Carnival) are registered elsewhere. Why? Because unlike many other countries, it simply isn't practical to flag here in the US! Unless you need the US flag for coastwise trade, there is no sensible reason to use it. Doing so would be a TERRIBLE business decision.
Regardless, ALL of them are subject to the same economic pressures which means that if a shipowner doesn't like the way you survey his ship, he can change Class anytime until he finds one he does like. Any Class surveyor who started holding up ships would be looking for another posting pretty quick.And that is where the importance of a tough Port State Control comes in. They can hold unsafe ships until they are in compliance, and it's this holding that forces owners to get things done before costs skyrocket.
....peter
[ 07-05-2003: Message edited by: cncservo ]
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