Do we actually have control over the quality of the flag state?

A ship is bound to the law of its flag state.

We are still awaiting a report on the by the flag state, the Bahamas.

International law requires that every merchant ship be registered in a country, called its flag state.

If you do, the skipper must ensure that they are allowed by the flag state and host country.

It is generally the case that all internal relations on a ship are governed by the law of the flag state.

It is then submitted to the fishing authorities of the vessel's flag state.

We agree with the view that it is no longer sufficient to rely on the flag state's safety checks.

That is one of the possibilities of having an economic link with the flag state.

The unique feature is that this will apply irrespective of the flag state.

My second comment is that the texts before us make strangely little reference to the liability of the flag State.

Panama is the leading flag state of tankers with 592 registered ships.

On the other hand, it discharges its obligations as a flag state, in accordance with international conventions.

Incidents are generally investigated by the flag state.

During another interview with Shipping International 2010 he explained in detail the issue of flag state inspections.

Panama was the world's largest flag state for oil tankers, with 528 of the vessels in its registry.

On the other hand, a further proposal, which supplements this scheme, on the liability of the flag State.

It symbolised to me and my colleagues in the European Parliament the fact that the flag state controls had failed.

However, those cases both involved ships that flew the flag of the flag state and were thus easily distinguishable.

The number came in two parts: the flag state (represented by a three letter prefix) and the hull number.

Each flag state has a ship register in which all ships that sail under their flag need to be registered.

By analyzing and collecting the information, unqualified conditions of a ship will be identified for Flag State inspection.

In the project team's discussions, it was agreed that ship inspection will require the consent of not only the flag state, but also the ship's captain.

I hope the Council will work with us on them just as quickly so as to improve flag state controls, port state control and liability.

Vital issues such as the integrated structure and conditions of work and pay are to be decided on the basis of the flag state's legislation.