Maritime Glossary
Flag State
Also known as: flag, state of registry
The country under whose laws a ship is registered, granting nationality and imposing obligations on the vessel.
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Full Definition
Under UNCLOS Article 91, ships have the nationality of the state whose flag they fly. The flag state must exercise effective jurisdiction over registered ships in administrative, technical, and social matters — issuing statutory certificates, enforcing IMO conventions, and investigating casualties. Open registries (Panama, Liberia, Marshall Islands) allow foreign ownership and crewing at lower cost. Port State Control officers may inspect foreign-flag ships and detain those not meeting international standards.
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