Liberian register reflects on busy start to 1999
THE Liberian Bureau of Maritime Affairs has enjoyed a flurry of activity in the first six months of 1999. Strong tonnage gains have further established the Liberian register as one of the world's largest, with nineteen vessels of 402,540 gt joining the flag in February alone. Coupled with twenty-seven vessels of 816,265 gt in March, and fifteen vessels of 379,059 gt in April, the register now stands at 1,960 ships totalling 64, 270,512 gt.
P&O Nedlloyd, Oldendorff, Stolt Tankers and Leif Hoegh have all registered ships under the Liberian flag this year. "High quality shipowners want to fly a high quality flag," says Gerald Cooper, Ambassador to the International Maritime Organisation and Deputy Commissioner for the Liberian Bureau of Maritime Affairs. "We will give these owners the same high quality of support they have become used to over the last fifty years."
Meanwhile, the Liberian Maritime Advisory Board was set up in July. Based in London, this high-level board will make recommendations and advise on relations with international organisations, international conventions and regulations. The board will serve under the chairmanship of Jim Davis, CBE. Benoni W Urey (Commissioner, Bureau of Maritime Affairs, Republic of Liberia) and Gerald F B Cooper (Liberian Permanent Representative to IMO) have been appointed ex-officio members, while former US coastguard commandant Admiral Bill Kime is one of a number of high-profile names on the board.
The board will also act as an adviser to the government on the conduct of the Liberian ship register, which will be managed from January 1, 2000 by Liberia International Ship and Corporate Register (LISCR), a US-based company.
This transition of the management of the register from International Registries Inc (IRI) to LISCR has now been finalised. It follows a period of disputes between the Republic of Liberia, IRI and LISCR. These have now been settled and all litigation has been dropped. "We can now go forward to a constructive transition of the management of the world's finest ship register," says Benoni Urey.
Liberia takes an active role in IMO activities, participating in all meetings and supporting the drive towards safer ships and cleaner seas. "Liberia takes its responsibilities as one of IMO's largest contributors very seriously," says Gerald Cooper. Looking to the future of IMO, Liberia supported recent comments by Bill O'Neil, secretary-general of IMO, that the power within IMO was shifting towards developing nations.
With the Asian economies, Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa playing an increasingly important role in maritime affairs, "they can rightfully expect to shape policy and to be in on the decision-making process to ensure that the IMO of the future reflects their interest and concerns," says O'Neil.
The influx of tonnage to the register reflects the high reputation of the Liberian flag and the quality of the fleet. The first half of 1999 has seen many developments in the structure of the register, which remains confident that the support of LISCR and the expertise of the new Maritime Advisory Board will enable it to continue offering shipowners the high standards of service they have come to expect.
New package from Hong Kong reaps benefits
A PACKAGE of fee reductions and procedural changes was put in place by the Hong Kong ship register in March this year. Following the exodus from the flag at the handover of the former British colony to China in 1997, the register has taken steps to become more user-friendly and competitive.
The key changes include:
- simplification of the fee structure
- reduction in the fee level
- simplification of the registration procedures and forms
- introduction of a flag state quality control system
- conclusion of a double taxation relief arrangement with Hong Kong's shipping partners, including the USA, mainland China and New Zealand.
As a result, the register has seen an increase of 240,000 gt to 6.5 million gt since March. The register is confident that this will continue, forecasting 54 per cent growth to ten million gt over the next three years.