GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman
Following the publication of the United States Coast Guard’s (USCG) Annual Report 2019 this week, the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry (Cayman Registry) is once again a Flag Administration that is featured as qualifying for USCG QUALSHIP 21 status. This marks the 10th consecutive year that the Cayman Registry has been recognized for their excellent Port State Control (PSC) record by the Quality Shipping for the 21st Century Program, or QUALSHIP 21 Program.
The criteria for inclusion on the program are very strict and only a small percentage of all foreign-flagged vessels that operate in the United States (U.S.) have earned the QUALSHIP 21 designation. The program is based upon data from PSC inspections in the U.S. and is the USCG’s effort to eliminate substandard shipping and focus on improving methods to identify poor-quality vessels. The QUALSHIP 21 Program is designed to recognize and reward vessels, their owners and operators along with their Flag Administrations for the combined commitment to the safety and quality of their vessels.
The USCG implemented the QUALSHIP 21 initiative to identify high-quality vessels and provide incentives to encourage quality operations. They identify the characteristics of a typical “quality” vessel as being associated with a well-run company, being classed by an organization with a quality track record, being registered with a Flag Administrator with a superior PSC record, and as having an outstanding PSC history in U.S. waters. For a flag state to qualify, their detention ratio must be less than 1.0% over the last three-year period.
Maintaining its position on QUALSHIP 21 is a testament to the Cayman Islands’ commitment to quality shipping. Cayman Flagged vessels that call on U.S. ports have complied an excellent PSC record with a rolling three-year (2017-2019) detention percentage below the 1.0% threshold that is required for inclusion into the program holding at 0.41% with 32 vessels enrolled in the program.
Mr. A. Joel Walton, CEO of the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands (parent organization of the Cayman Registry), remarked, “The Cayman Registry is very pleased to once again maintain its position on the United States Coast Guard’s QUALSHIP 21 Program.” He continued by saying “This qualification is a testament to the hardworking team of the Registry, shipowners and managers for their continued outstanding efforts having no detentions during the 2019 period. I would like to thank the Cayman Registry team and our partners for maintaining an outstanding safety and quality record for the Cayman Flag."
The status is reviewed by the USCG annually and the names of QUALSHIP 21 ships are posted on the USCG’s website.
- ENDS -