List of flags of convenience

The International Transport Workers' Federation maintains a list[1] of 32 registries it considers to be flag of convenience registries. In developing the list, the ITF considers "ability and willingness of the flag state to enforce international minimum social standards on its vessels,"[2] the "degree of ratification and enforcement of ILO Conventions and Recommendations,"[2] and "safety and environmental record."[2] The following registries are on the ITF list (with figures sourced from the CIA World Factbook):

Flag of convenience registries and statistics (of ships of 1,000 GRT and greater)
Registry Ships Registered Foreign-owned ships Percent Foreign Foreign-owned ship profile Remarks
Antigua and Barbuda International Shipping Register[3] 1,219[4] 1,186[4] 97% Germany 1050, Denmark 20, Estonia 20, Netherlands 18, Latvia 16, Iceland 9, Norway 9, Switzerland 7, Turkey 7, US 6, Greece 5, Lithuania 4, Russia 3, Isle of Man 2, Mexico 2, NZ 2, Poland 2, Albania 1, Colombia 1, Slovenia 1, Sweden 1[4]
Bahamas Maritime Authority 1,170[5] 1,080[5] 92% Greece 209, Norway 198, Canada 102, US 100, Japan 93, Denmark 59, Germany 39, Poland 32, UAE 27, UK 24, Netherlands 22, France 19, Saudi Arabia 16, Cyprus 14, Monaco 14, Malaysia 13, Bermuda 12, Belgium 9, Spain 9, Finland 8, Singapore 7, Guernsey 6, Sweden 6, Angola 5, Italy 5, China 4, Thailand 4, Ireland 3, Turkey 3, Hong Kong 2, Indonesia 2, Jordan 2, Kuwait 2, Montenegro 2, Nigeria 2, Switzerland 2, Brazil 1, Croatia 1, Slovenia 1, Trinidad and Tobago 1.[5][6]
Barbados Maritime Ship Registry 95[7] 89[7] 94% Norway 41, Greece 14, Canada 13, UK 7, Sweden 6, Iran 4, Lebanon 2, Syria 1, Turkey 1[7]
International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize 231[8] 171[8] 74% China 64, Russia 32, Turkey 18, Latvia 10, Singapore 7, Ukraine 6, UAE 5, UK 4, Italy 3, Norway 3, Greece 2, Iceland 2, Lithuania 2, Nigeria 2, Syria 2, Chile 1, Croatia 1, Cyprus 1, Estonia 1, Germany 1, Japan 1, Netherlands 1, Peru 1, Spain 1[8] China refuses diplomatic relations with Belize
Bermuda Department of Maritime Administration[9] 139[10] 114[10] 82% US 25, Sweden 17, Germany 15, China 13, UK 11, Nigeria 11, Hong Kong 5, Norway 5, Israel 3, Greece 2, Ireland 2, Japan 2, Monaco 2, France 1[10]
Bolivia 22[11] 7[11] 32% Syria 4, Bahamas 1, Ecuador 1, Iran 1[11] Bolivia is a landlocked nation
International Ship Registry of Cambodia[12] 620[13] 426[13] 69% China 203, Russia 60, Ukraine 37, Turkey 26, Syria 22, Egypt 12, Hong Kong 11, South Korea 11, Cyprus 8, Lebanon 6, Singapore 4, US 4, UK 3, Canada 2, Greece 2, Indonesia 2, Japan 2, UAE 2, Belgium 1, Estonia 1, French Polynesia 1, Gabon 1, Latvia 1, Netherlands 1, Romania 1, Taiwan 1, Vietnam 1[13]
Cayman Islands Shipping Registry[14] 113[15] 99[15] 88% US 54, Japan 19, Greece 11, Germany 6, Italy 6, UK 2, Switzerland 1[15]
Maritime Administration of the Union of Comoros[16] 177[17] 98[17] 55% Russia 21, Turkey 16, UAE 11, Ukraine 10, Bulgaria 8, Syria 6, Greece 3, Lebanon 3, Lithuania 3, Pakistan 3, Cyprus 2, Norway 2, US 2, Bangladesh 1, China 1, Kenya 1, Kuwait 1, Latvia 1, Monaco 1, Nigeria 1, UK 1[17]
Republic of Cyprus Department of Merchant Shipping 839[18] 637[18] 76% Greece 216, Germany 189, Russia 47, Netherlands 24, Poland 20, Japan 19, France 16, Norway 12, Iran 10, Estonia 7, Spain 7, UK 7, US 7, China 6, Denmark 6, Italy 6, Sweden 5, UAE 5, Slovenia 4, Ireland 3, Belgium 2, Canada 2, Hong Kong 2, India 2, Portugal 2, Ukraine 2, Austria 1, Bermuda 1, Chile 1, Cuba 1, Israel 1, Monaco 1, Philippines 1, Singapore 1, Syria 1[18]
Equatorial Guinea 4[19] 1[19] 25% Norway 1[19]
French International Ship Register[20] 167[21] 57[21] 34% Denmark 12, French Polynesia 12, Belgium 7, Sweden 6, China 5, Switzerland 5, New Caledonia 3, Singapore 3, Germany 1, Norway 1, NZ 1, Spain 1[21]
German International Ship Register 421[22] 10[22] 2% Finland 5, China 2, Greece 1, Sweden 1, Switzerland 1[22]
Georgia 193[23] 132[23] 68% Syria 35, Turkey 22, Ukraine 15, China 11, Egypt 11, Romania 7, Russia 7, Germany 4, Hong Kong 4, UK 4, Greece 3, Italy 2, Denmark 1, Israel 1, Latvia 1, Lebanon 1, Pakistan 1, UAE 1, US 1[23]
Gibraltar Registry of Shipping 265[24] 250[24] 94% Germany 125, Norway 42, Netherlands 33, Sweden 12, Greece 7, Denmark 6, UAE 5, Italy 4, Morocco 4, UK 4, Belgium 2, Finland 2, Cyprus 1, Iceland 1, Jersey 1, Singapore 1[24]
Honduras 104[25] 49[25] 41% Singapore 12, South Korea 6, Bahrain 5, Greece 4, Japan 4, China 2, Egypt 2, Lebanon 2, Montenegro 2, Taiwan 2, Canada 1, Hong Kong 1, Israel 1, Mexico 1, Panama 1, Tanzania 1, UK 1, Vietnam 1[25] China refuses diplomatic relations with Honduras
Jamaica Ship Registry[26] 19[27] 19[27] 100% Germany 10, Greece 8, Denmark 1[27]
Lebanon 29[28] 3[28] 10% Syria 3[28]
Liberian International Ship and Corporate Registry[29] 2,512[30] 2,356[30] 94% Germany 1049, Greece 454, Russia 108, Japan 102, Taiwan 88, Italy 48, Hong Kong 47, Norway 42, US 39, Netherlands 35, Israel 31, Singapore 27, UAE 27, UK 25, Saudi Arabia 24, Brazil 20, Isle of Man 19, Switzerland 17, Ukraine 16, Turkey 15, Poland 13, China 10, Monaco 10, Sweden 10, Latvia 9, Chile 7, Cyprus 7, Gibraltar 5, Qatar 5, Slovenia 5, Bermuda 4, Canada 4, Denmark 4, Indonesia 4, Nigeria 4, Argentina 3, Romania 3, Vietnam 3, Australia 2, Croatia 2, Finland 2, Angola 1, Belgium 1, India 1, Lebanon 1, South Korea 1, Syria 1, Uruguay 1[30]
Malta Maritime Authority 1,571[31] 1,401[31] 89% Greece 458, Turkey 211, Germany 127, Norway 84, Iran 56, Italy 52, Russia 47, Denmark 41, US 35, Ukraine 30, Cyprus 29, Poland 22, Estonia 16, UK 16, Belgium 14, Switzerland 14, France 13, China 11, Latvia 11, Spain 10, Bermuda 8, Romania 8, Angola 7, Bulgaria 7, Croatia 7, Lebanon 7, Israel 5, Japan 5, Syria 5, India 4, Libya 4, Slovenia 4, Luxembourg 3, Portugal 3, Singapore 3, South Korea 3, Sweden 3, Finland 2, Hong Kong 2, Kuwait 2, Netherlands 2, Austria 1, Azerbaijan 1, Bahamas 1, Bangladesh 1, Canada 1, Egypt 1, Ireland 1, Malaysia 1, Nigeria 1, UAE 1[31]
International Registries, Inc (Marshall Islands) 1,381[32] 1,284[32] 93% Greece 358, Germany 247, US 168, Turkey 72, Norway 57, Japan 41, Cyprus 38, Bermuda 34, Singapore 28, South Korea 25, Qatar 24, Monaco 21, Latvia 18, UAE 17, China 16, Netherlands 16, Croatia 12, Switzerland 12, Malaysia 11, Jersey 9, India 8, Denmark 7, UK 7, Russia 6, Slovenia 6, Canada 4, Mexico 4, Hong Kong 3, Iraq 2, Isle of Man 2, Romania 2, Taiwan 2, Australia 1, Brazil 1, Egypt 1, Israel 1, Italy 1, Pakistan 1, Ukraine 1[32] China refuses diplomatic relations with Marshall Islands
Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Land Transport & Shipping (Mauritius)[33] 3[34] 0[34] 0%
Mongolia Ship Registry[35] 58[36] 44[36] 76% Vietnam 34, Russia 4, Indonesia 2, North Korea 1, Singapore 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1[36] Mongolia is a landlocked nation
Myanmar (Burma) 26[37] 3[37] 12% Cyprus 1, Germany 1, Japan 1[37]
Netherlands Antilles 120[38] 101[38] 84% Netherlands 52, Germany 32, Turkey 8, Angola 2, Norway 2, Cuba 1, Denmark 1, Estonia 1, Hong Kong 1, Sweden 1[38] Netherlands Antilles dissolved as of October 10, 2010
North Korea 158[39] 19[39] 12% Syria 6, UAE 6, Singapore 2, Belgium 1, China 1, Nigeria 1, Romania 1, South Korea 1[39]
Autoridad Marítima de Panamá 6,379[40] 5,244[40] 82% Japan 2347, China 574, Greece 402, South Korea 366, Taiwan 337, Hong Kong 125, US 102, Norway 89, UAE 83, Singapore 79, Turkey 79, Denmark 46, Syria 42, Spain 40, Russia 39, Vietnam 37, UK 33, Germany 27, Italy 23, Switzerland 22, Chile 17, India 17, Bermuda 15, Indonesia 14, Monaco 14, France 13, Jordan 13, Kuwait 12, Malaysia 12, Peru 12, Egypt 11, Isle of Man 11, Ukraine 11, Portugal 9, Cyprus 8, Netherlands 8, Oman 8, Saudi Arabia 8, Venezuela 8, Argentina 7, Bahamas 7, Nigeria 7, Bulgaria 6, Ecuador 6, Mexico 6, Philippines 6, Thailand 6, Australia 5, Canada 5, Iran 5, Pakistan 5, Cuba 4, Latvia 4, Lithuania 4, Yemen 4, Albania 3, Bangladesh 3, Brazil 3, Burma 3, Maldives 3, Poland 3, Belgium 2, Colombia 2, Croatia 2, Finland 2, Lebanon 2, Malta 2, Romania 2, Tanzania 2, Azerbaijan 1, Gabon 1, Gibraltar 1, Ireland 1, Israel 1, Luxembourg 1, Morocco 1, Qatar 1, Sweden 1, Tunisia 1

[40]

 China refuses diplomatic relations with Panama
São Tomé and Príncipe 3[41] 1[41] 33% Greece 1[41]
SVG Maritime Administration (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)[42] 444[43] 382[43] 86% China 82, Greece 63, Denmark 19, US 19, Turkey 18, Latvia 15, Russia 15, Syria 13, Norway 12, Ukraine 12, Bulgaria 10, Estonia 10, Lithuania 10, Croatia 8, UK 7, Belgium 6, Italy 5, Switzerland 5, Egypt 4, Hong Kong 4, Lebanon 4, UAE 4, Israel 3, Japan 3, Monaco 3, Austria 2, Cyprus 2, France 2, Germany 2, Guyana 2, Kenya 2, Netherlands 2, Slovenia 2, Sweden 2, Bangladesh 1, Bermuda 1, Czech Republic 1, Dominica 1, Nigeria 1, Oman 1, Pakistan 1, Poland 1, Romania 1, Venezuela 1[43] China refuses diplomatic relations with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Merchant Shipping Division (Sri Lanka)[44] 22[45] 5[45] 23% Germany 5[45]
Tonga 10[46] 3[46] 30% Australia 1, Switzerland 1, UK 1[46] International registry suspended in 2002.[47]
Vanuatu Maritime Services Limited[48] 72[49] 70[49] 97% Japan 44, Poland 7, Canada 5, Greece 4, Ukraine 3, Australia 2, Belgium 1, Monaco 1, Norway 1, Russia 1, UAE 1[49]

Notes

  1. ^ ITFglobal.org
  2. ^ a b c International Transport Workers' Federation. "What are Flags of Convenience?". http://www.itfglobal.org/flags-convenience/sub-page.cfm. Retrieved 2007-05-04. 
  3. ^ Antiguamarine.com
  4. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Antigua and Barbuda, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-01.
  5. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Bahamas, The, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  6. ^ Flag-state self assessment
  7. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Barbados, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  8. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Belize, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  9. ^ Gov.bm
  10. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Bermuda, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  11. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Bolivia, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  12. ^ Isrocam.com
  13. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Cambodia, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  14. ^ Cishipping.com
  15. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Cayman Islands, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-01.
  16. ^ Bihlyumov.com
  17. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Comoros, Transportation. Access date 2011-02-23.
  18. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Cyprus, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  19. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Equatorial Guinea, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  20. ^ Rif.mer.equipement.gouv.fr
  21. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, France, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  22. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Germany, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  23. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Georgia, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  24. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Gibraltar, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  25. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Honduras, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  26. ^ Jamaicaships.com
  27. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Jamaica, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  28. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Lebanon, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  29. ^ Liscr.com
  30. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Liberia, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  31. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Malta, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  32. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Marshall Islands, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  33. ^ Gov.mu
  34. ^ a b CIA World Factbook, Mauritius, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  35. ^ Mngship.org
  36. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Mongolia, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  37. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Myanmar, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-09.
  38. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Netherlands Antilles, Transportation. Access date 2011-01-11.
  39. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, North Korea, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-09.
  40. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Panama, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  41. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, São Tomé and Príncipe, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-01.
  42. ^ SVG-marad.com
  43. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Transportation. Access date 2011-02-22.
  44. ^ Ports-aviation.gov.lk
  45. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Sri Lanka, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.
  46. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Tonga, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-01.
  47. ^ "Tonga suspends registry". http://www.marinelog.com/DOCS/NEWSMMII/MMIIJan15b.html. Retrieved 2007-05-05. 
  48. ^ Vanuatuships.com
  49. ^ a b c CIA World Factbook, Vanuatu, Transportation. Access date 2011-03-08.