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Maritime Services
Maritime Services provided by the Liberian Registry and handled by the corresponding department, include:
- Vessel Registration Department
- Maritime Security Department
- Marine Safety Department / Marine Safety Inspections
- Vessel Inspection / Audit Coordination Department
- Marine Investigations Department
- Seafarer’s Certification & Documentation Department
- Classification Societies / Interpretation of International Standards (Technical Department)
- International Maritime Organization Representation
- SEA SYSTEM: Seafarer’s Electronic Application System
- Marine Publications Department
The Liberian Registry is open to any ship owner in the world. In order to enter the Liberian registry a vessel must be less than 20 years of age and must meet high safety standards. The documentation required for entering the registry and applications are available under the "Online Forms" tab. The annual tonnage tax and fees can be calculated with our online tonnage calculator. Select "Special Pricing" and enter the net registered tonnage of a vessel in the space provided.
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As evident by current and past incidents attacks, commercial ships and their crews are not only targets of crimes such as robbery, piracy and hostage taking, but are also potential targets of terrorist attacks. The Liberian Administration believes that compliance to the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code, potentially reduces the threat of crimes and attacks against Liberian vessels and their crew, and minimizes the potential vulnerability of neighboring environments.
The Liberian Flag Administration have held discussions with members of the International Association of Classification Societies, security consultants, clients and the U.S. Coast Guard to determine the best possible approach to meet this challenges of the ISPS Code and safeguarding Liberian flagged vessels and seafarers against the outcome of crimes, piracy and terrorism. As a result of these meetings and discussions, the Administration has developed comprehensive procedures for implementation and adherence to this regulatory compliance program.
The Liberian Registry employs an experienced staff compiled of maritime, operational and security experts to follow, monitor and analyze security situations, alerts and incidents worldwide.
The Liberian Administration works with our clients to determine that ship security procedures are properly implemented. The Security Department is responsible for:
- Development of Liberian requirements for ISPS compliance,
- Approval of Ship Security Plans,
- Verification of the Security Plan implementation,
- Oversight of the RSOs and Liberian security auditors,
- Issuance of certification,
- Setting and communicating security levels to Liberian ships,
- Development and distribution of Continuous Synopsis Records (CSR)
Liberian National Requirements have been written to implement the ISPS Code, and can be found in Marine Notice ISP-001, along with all other relevant documents that may be easily accessed at our website: www.liscr.com.
Marine Notice ISP-001 (PDF)
List of Approved SSO Courses (Link)
RSO List: ISP-001 Annex (PDF)
SSP Questionnaire (PDF)
Liberian vessel operators are encouraged to use these services as well as the above resources. Please contact the Security Department for further information or to coordinate vessel audit verifications.
For further information, please contact:
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The Liberian ship Registry is recognized as the leading open registry in terms of safety and quality. Service and efficiency in response to owners needs is a primary attraction as responsiveness and high level of service often surpass that offered by many national flags. Comprised of more than 2000 worldwide trading vessels, many of which are at the leading edge of technology, the fleet average age is by far one the youngest of all nations (average age 13,5 years).
The excellent record of the fleet can be attributed to many factors including; delegation of statutory surveys to the leading classification societies, a worldwide network of nautical inspectors who perform annual safety inspections and well qualified professional seafarers who meet the highest standards of training, experience and certification. There are no citizenship requirements for officers or seafarers serving on Liberian Flag ships. The well-documented maritime laws, regulations and marine notices, back up the Flag’s administration of seafarers’ rights in support of its maritime safety and pollution prevention program. Manning is dependent on size and route of the vessel. The Office of the Deputy Commissioner may grant temporary waivers from its Operations Center in Virginia.
Republic of Liberia, whose government was by far the earliest to contract out its administration of a shipping registry to a private company, has thusly ensured long term consistency and professional management by technically competent, responsive employees using modern management principles and sound business practices.
Liberia has consistently been rated amongst the very best performing registries by the Paris MOU, a consortium of 14 European countries that coordinates the inspection of ships. The European port authorities monitor compliance with international rules on safety, pollution prevention, and living and working conditions for seafarers. Under a similar assessment system, the U.S. Coast Guard also ranks the Liberian Registry among the top performing ship registries. Furthermore the Liberian Registry performance is also amongst the highest as ranked by the Tokyo MOU assessment system.
Liberia is signatory to all the major safety and environmental protection Conventions and Treaties. As an active and involved member of the IMO, Liberia has set the standard with regard to IMO participation and early ratification of the major Safety and Environmental Protection Treaties.
The Liberian Registry is the first and so far the only major open registry to have trained a world-wide network of lead auditors in both the International Safty Management (ISM) and International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) codes. By harmonizing the overlapping requirements of these International Codes, the Liberian Registry seeks to provide shipowners convenient, efficient and cost-effective certification services. Shipowners can ensure compliance while reducing the burden on ship and shore staff, as well as reducing survey expenses by erolling in Liberia's optional Harmonized Audit program. Our world wide network of nautical inspectors also conduct annula safety inspections, which compliment the surveys, conducted by the classification society on our behalf. These inspections are focused on operational, manning, training ans safety management issues.
The Registry tracks and reports to IMO on all Port State Detentions of Liberian Flag vessels. It is noteworthy that it is a very small number of Liberian vessels that have been detained and the Registry is working with its nautical inspectors, the class societies and the vessel managers to decrease the number of Port State detentions of Liberian Flag vessels. The nautical inspectors have come to the aid of detained vessels and the registry by using their expertise to help correct the deficiencies identified by the Port State Inspector or, in some cases, removing the record of Port State detention when the reported deficiency was not found to be applicable to the particular vessel or operation.
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The Registry has trained its own world-wide network of auditors to carry out company and ship verification and certification as mandated by the ISM code and International Ship and Port Security as mandated by ISPS code. These auditors performed a large percentage of the ISPS Code approval and certification tasks for the Liberian fleet, providing owners and operators with professional and cost effective service.
Certification audits can be combined with ISPS Code verification audits and Annual Safty Inspections. By harmonizing the overlapping requirements of these International Codes, the Liberian Registry provides shipowners convenient, efficient and cost-effective certification services. Shipowners can ensure compliance while reducing the burden on ship and shore staff, as well as reducing survey expenses by enrolling in Liberia's optional Harmonized Audit program and harmonizing the overlapping rquirements of these International Codes.
Following the administrations outstanding success in International Ship & Port Facility Security (ISPS) approval, verification and certification, and harmonized audit programs, a quality and audit department was established and a staff of audit coordinators was hired to maintain and manage the audit operation. The audit department assures that audits are conducted in a professional and timely manner with as little as possible burden on the shipowner and the vessels crew.
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When the need for investigations of maritime accidents, personnel and other related problems arise, they are handled by the Investigation Division in Vienna, Virginia, USA. The Investigation Division with familiar staff has, over the past decade, earned a superior reputation for conducting marine investigations with efficiency and competency.
Marine casualty investigations are administrative proceedings that are essentially remedial in nature. Most Investigation Division functions involve "incidents" which can be thought of as issues or occurrences that require some type of action by this Administration. They can be events that directly involve the ship such as detention, casualty, contravention (MARPOL 73/78, TSS and COLREG), or an oil spill. Casualty Investigations also include looking into possible violations of law or failure on the part of personnel, ship owners, or ship operators, which could result in personnel action against licenses, certificates of competency or documents. They may be personnel related such as death or an injury, failure to properly perform duties, crew grievances, or an act of fraud or misconduct. There also may be an interaction between "incidents" such as a shipboard explosion that injures a seafarer or improper navigation that results in a vessel grounding or collision. Other "incidents" may relate to more generic issues such as embargoes, treaties, tariffs, desertion, stowaway, etc.
SOLAS Chapter 1, Regulation 21 requires Flag States/Administrations to investigate certain casualties and to notify the IMO of the results. The Administration will investigate casualties to its ships when it judges that such an investigation may assist in determining what changes to the present regulations may be desirable.
Casualties are classified in accordance with severity:
Marine Incidents - an occurrence or event caused by, or in connection with, the operations of a ship by which the ship or any person is imperiled, or a result of which serious damage to the ship or structure or the environment might be caused.
Very Serious Casualty - those that involve total loss of the ships, loss of life, or severe pollution.
Serious Casualty - includes "pollution regardless of quantity" requiring full investigation and a detailed report to IMO, but does not require a full narrative report. Casualties resulting in spilled oil or spilled chemical of 50 tons or more. However, MARPOL 73/78, article 12 states that flag states will conduct investigations into casualties to its vessels when they result in major deleterious effect upon the environment.
Less Serious Casualty - (the null set) is defined as that which does not fall into the serious or Very Serious categories. Oil or chemical spills of less than 50 tons would fit as less serious casualty.
Reporting Requirement: Liberian Maritime Regulation 9.257
- Reports of Marine Casualties. The owner or Master of a Liberian vessel involved in a marine casualty shall immediately forward a report thereon, signed by the Master or highest available officer or ship's representative, to the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs whenever the casualty results in any of the following:
- Actual physical damage to property in excess of $100,000.00;
- Material damage affecting the seaworthiness or efficiency of a vessel;
- Stranding or grounding;
- Loss of life; or
- Injury causing any persons to remain incapacitated for a period in excess of 72 hours.
- Form of Reports. Such report shall set forth the name and Official Number of the vessel, the type of the vessel, the name and address of the owner, the date and time of the casualty, the exact locality of the casualty, the nature of the casualty and the circumstances under which it took place. If the casualty involves collision with another vessel, the name of such other vessel shall be provided. Where the casualty involves personal injury or loss of life, the names of all persons injured or whose lives are lost shall be provided and, where damage to property is involved, the nature of the property damaged and the then estimate of the extent of the damage shall be supplied. Such reports may be upon forms obtained from the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs.
- Retention of Voyage Records. The persons in charge of any vessel involved in a marine casualty referred to in Paragraph (1) above shall retain for two years or until otherwise instructed by the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner the complete records of the voyage upon which the casualty occurred, as well as any other material which might reasonably be of assistance in investigation and determination of the cause and scope of the casualty, and said persons shall make all such records and materials available, upon request, to the Commissioner, a Deputy Commissioner, the Chairman of a Marine Board of Investigation, or a designated Investigating Officer.
Contacts: Generally, the ship owner, ship operator or Management or Ship's Officers may contact the Liberian Flag Administration at the contact points of the Maritime Operation Department. However, for specific matters relating to the Investigation Division, please contact:
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The Seafarers Department at the Liberian Registry certifies and documents officers and rating that sail aboard Liberian registered ships. This department is responsible for issuing Seafarer Identification and Record Books, special qualification certificates, and all officer certificates.
The Department has pioneered safeguards to eliminate fraudulent applications for crew certification and to reduce the illegal duplication of crew documentation. The Department has also expanded its computer system to file and maintain electronic documents, and it is enhancing relations with maritime colleges and flag administrations that issue certifications to further combat fraud and speed up the documentation process.
The Seafarer’s Department has also introduced one of the Registry’s high tech computerized systems for seafarers applications. This time and cost saving electronic application system is known as SEA System is described in section 9 below.
Liberia has consistently been well below the cutoff of the world's average insofar as detention rate by port state control and does not appear on any countries detention list, including that of the Paris and Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control and the US Coast Guard. Liberia's system of investigation of casualties and recommendations made in the interests of improving marine safety worldwide has been recognized as one of the best. The Institute of London Underwriters has ranked Liberia well below the world's average loss ratio for the last several years.
For further information, please contact:
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The Republic of Liberia recognizes the following classification societies for conducting surveys and issuing statutory certificates on behalf of Liberia:
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
Bureau Veritas (BV)
China Classification Society (CCS)
Det Norske Veritas (DNV)
Germanischer Lloyd (GL)
Korean Register of Shipping (KRS)
Lloyd’s Register of Shipping (LR)
Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NK)
Registro Italiano Navale (RINA)
Russian Maritime Register of Shipping
All of the above listed class societies are members of International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). The Liberian Registry maintains continuous contact with these recognized class societies.
A close association between the societies and the Technical Department has developed from the many years of positive exchanges between each class societies and our technical staff. Each year a Recognized Class Society Meeting (RCSM) is held where technical questions concerning implementation of regulations are resolved and issues of mutual concern are aired.
Liberia is signatory to the major international maritime conventions and works with the class societies to ensure full and fair compliance and enforcement of the international rules and codes. As a consequence of the close cooperation between the Registry's technical staff and the class societies, Liberia has implemented consistent interpretations of international rules and regulations to facilitate clear and unambiguous technical information for use in new vessel construction by major shipyards around the world and to ensure continued compliance and safe operation of existing vessels under the Liberian flag.
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Liberia has active governmental representatives at the IMO who are permanently stationed in London to provide full time flag state voice to the issues effecting safety, security and environmental protection on the IMO agenda. Professional staff from LISCR Vienna, New York and London offices participate to augment the official delegation in the numerous working groups, sub-committees and committee meetings.
We welcome Liberian ship owners and industry participation, therefore if you have an interest in a particular issue or wish to send a representative to attend a scheduled meeting please contact:
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The SEA System is a convenient and easy-to-use computer program by which filing agents and ship owners can submit applications for seafarer documents over a secured host on the Internet. This innovative computer program is expected to provide:
1) significant cost savings to filling agents/crew departments in shipping costs,
2) significant decrease in turn-around time for seafarer documents, receiving the requested documents in a matter of days, rather than weeks
3) improved accuracy of issued documents
4) an easy tracking system to monitor the status of seafarer’s applications, and
5) a better way to manage applications sent for processing.
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Liberian Registry Maritime Publications Department is responsible for all marine publications. Marine publications include: Marine Documents, Marine Notices, Marine Operations Notes, Policy Letters, as well as documentation for specific international marine requirements, codes and standards, i.e. ISPS, ISM etc. Maritime Publications are classified as follows:
Marine Documents
Marine Notices
- Marine Operations Notes
- Policy Letters
- International Ship and Port Security Code (ISPS Code)
- Marine Safety Program
- Vessel Registration and Documentation
- Marine Investigations
Most documents are easily accessible and downloaded from our website www.liscr.com, please see web site section on Online Resources.
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