Shipping
More ships are said to ride under German flag
The German flag has a hard time in shipping. Foreign flags prefer local shipping companies, also because of the costs. Authorities work on a reform.
German authorities are working on a reform of the flag state administration. In this way, they want to ensure that more shipping companies use the German flag for their ships. This was announced by the Federal Sea shipping and hydrography (BSH) from Hamburg to the German Press Agency. In international law it is regulated that ships belong to the state whose flag leads them. German labor law therefore applies, for example, on ships under German flag.
Share of foreign flags in around 85 percent
Most ships in the German merchant fleet drive with a foreign flag, which is also possible under certain conditions. At the end of last year it was 1,417 of 1,675, almost 85 percent. In 2014 the value was around 88 percent, ten years earlier 75.8 percent. An important reason is lower costs.
Central service plan
The reform initiated the Federal Ministry of Transport. The ship safety department, which is located like the BSH in Hamburg, is also involved in the reform. The authorities are planning to set up a central service point for the shipping companies and the seafarers in the future. So far there have been several responsible bodies. As the reform progresses, the new federal government and the new management of the Federal Ministry of Transport will also depend on the BSH.
Reeder supports
The Association of German shipowners from Hamburg, which represents around 200 companies in the industry, supports the reform. “Because the German flag has to be made more attractive and internationally more competitive overall in order to be able to compete with the other large flag states,” says a statement to the German Press Agency. The German flag state administration is still too bureaucratic in an international comparison. In addition, special rules caused unnecessary costs.
German flag occupies 21st place in ranking
In an international comparison, the German flag does comparatively well despite the disadvantages mentioned by the association. The organization of the Paris Agreement on the Port State Controls leads the flag in an international ranking in 21st place out of 71. The top positions have Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway.
Germany’s merchant fleet is one of the most important in the world. According to the trade and development, Germany, measured by the ship’s weight, is in seventh worldwide. Greece, China and Japan are in the first places.
dpa
Source: Stern
