In its PSC Annual Report for 2017, the USCG provided an update on the QUALSHIP 21, the Coast Guard’s initiative which attempts to recognize and reward vessels, as well as their owners and Flag Administrations, for their commitment to safety and quality.
To encourage maritime entities to participate to the Quality Shipping for the 21st Century program (QUALSHIP 21), incentives such as certificates, name recognition, and a reduction in PSC examination frequency are rendered to participants. However, the criteria for inclusion are very strict and only a small percentage of all foreign-flagged ships that operate in the US have earned the QUALSHIP 21 designation.
Highlights 2017
- The QUALSHIP 21 program ended calendar year 2017 with an enrollment of 2,013 vessels.
- Four previously qualified flag administrations lost their QUALSHIP 21 eligibility over this past year. These vessels will remain enrolled until their QUALSHIP 21 certificates expire.
- In 2017, USCG introduced a new designation within the existing QUALSHIP 21 program called E-Zero. By the end of 2017, 49 ships received the E-Zero designation. The new program focuses on environmental stewardship and worldwide compliance with international environmental conventions.
Qualifying ships receive a special E-Zero designation on their QUALSHIP 21 certificate. The E-Zero designation is intended to provide a higher level of recognition within the existing QUALSHIP 21 program.
In addition, for the period of 1 July 2018 – 30 June 2019, there are 19 eligible Flag Administrations for the QUALSHIP 21 Program:
- Bahamas
- Denmark
- Japan
- United Kingdom
- Belgium
- France
- Marshall Islands
- Bermuda
- Germany
- Netherlands
- British Virgin Islands
- Gibraltar
- Republic of Korea
- Canada
- Hong Kong
- Singapore
- Cayman Islands
- Isle of Man
- Switzerland
In 2011, the USCG created a list of Flag Administrations that have shown a commitment to excellence in their level of compliance with international standards, but do not meet the full requirements for QUALSHIP 21 eligibility. Specifically, they have not met the requirement of at least 10 PSC examinations per calendar year for the previous three years.
The list below contains Flag Administrations that have had at least three PSC safety examinations in each of the previous three years and have not been subject to any PSC detention in that same time period:
- Finland
- Malaysia
- Spain
- Jamaica
- Moldova
- Taiwan
- Libya
- Qatar
- Luxembourg
- Russia
