LISCR chief executive Alfonso Castillero discusses how the registry is advancing shipping safety, decarbonisation and gas carrier design in an article published in Riviera.
LISCR
When it comes to advancing shipping safety, decarbonisation and new gas carrier design, the Liberian International Ship and Corporate Registry (LISCR) is leading the way as an innovative flag state, according to its chief executive Alfonso Castillero.
Top Priority
In an interview with LNG Shipping & Terminals, Mr Castillero says safety is a top priority for LISCR, which is the world’s second largest flag, with about 5,000 vessels aggregating some 220M gt, and he pushes back against critics of open registries.
Open Registries
“Through the years, there has been a lot of criticism of flag states and open registries. But if you look at the ranking, on safety and performance, you’re better off [with an open registry] than many of the other closed registers,” he says.
He adds that detractors, that call open registries “flags of convenience”, are just looking “to throw some mud”.
Industry Standard
Reinforcing Mr Castillero’s view is none other than the US Coast Guard, which officially listed the LISCR in its list of Qualship 21 flag state administrations.
Pleased by the development, Mr Castillero describes Qualship 21 as “an industry standard” in the United States, reflecting the quality — in this case, of the flag — based on how many vessels have been inspected in a three-year rolling average, versus the number of detentions on average in that same period.
Check Mark
Some shipowners see Qualship 21 as “another star or check mark” to demonstrate their safety record to stakeholders and shareholders, he observes.
Annual Port
Liberia’s quality performance extends beyond the US.
Since it first released its annual port state control report in 1999, the Paris MOU has white-listed Liberia.
Quality Tonnage
LISCR’s dedication to quality tonnage has made it “the fastest growing ship registry for the last five years in a row, which means that we are the preferred flag, not in just one jurisdiction, but across the globe,” says Mr Castillero.
New digital tools
On the technology front, Mr Castillero sees the Liberian Registry as forward leaning, developing digital tools to benefit shipowners, and advancing shipping’s research into decarbonisation through dozens of collaborative joint industry projects (JIPs).
Active Participation
“We have actively participated in over 30 JIPs with high quality stakeholders, and the nature of these JIPs are groundbreaking and varied, including testing and verification of second-generation biofuels, a 40,000-m3 CO2 carrier design, a 40,000-m3 LNG FSRU, a liquid hydrogen carrier and new materials for gas cargo and fuel tanks, as well as verifying the effectiveness of underwater hull air-lubrication systems and other innovative technologies and design solutions.
New Regulations
These efforts are done in conjunction with the registry’s efforts at IMO to ensure all the new regulations proposed and to be implemented are done so in a practical and common-sense way that ensures a level playing field,” he says.
Dynamic Prevention Program
Among the registry’s digital tools is the Dynamic Prevention Program, which uses a plethora of data from various key sources from class and flag, combined with port state control data, to determine how likely it is a ship will be inspected or detained at port.
The Risk
“We think that the risk that a vessel will face going from one port to another is different,” says Mr Castillero.
For example, when a vessel that has been trading exclusively in Europe or Asia calls in the US for the first time, it is more likely to be inspected, he explains.
The Dynamic Prevention Program “allows our team to act behind the scenes to prepare the vessel and the crew to get ready for inspection,” he says.
Did you subscribe for our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Riviera
