The open registry controversy : a legal debate

Abstract

Quality in shipping has been on the international agenda for some years now. It is evident that a wide spectrum of quality exists in the shipping industry. The vast majority of actors are responsible people doing a great job, applying high standards, improving step by step economic performance and recognising a need for safety and care for the environment Nevertheless substandard ships still exist Are open registers to blame for this? From this thesis it will emerge that no register has the perfect ship, consequently bad ships are found both in open and traditional registers. However on account of the fact that in the early years of their development open registers were criticised due to their inability and unwillingness to enforce safety regulations in order to increase profits, today they have remained with the same stigma. Consequently open registers are under increasing pressure to prove to the world that they have standing as quality registers. If they fail to convince the world that they are senous in their endeavours, they risk being identified, segregated and eventually eliminated.