Panama off Paris MoU flag “black list”

Panama off Paris MoU flag “black list”

Panama off Paris MoU flag “black list”

   The Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control said that Panama, Belize, and Romania have been taken off its “black list” of flag states with a high number of substandard ships.

   Out of 6,429 vessel inspections between 2003 and 2005, 444 Panama-flagged ships were found to be deficient and detained.

   Panama, along with the other two countries, is now on the intermediate “Grey List” which covers flags with an average performance.

   For 2005, the intergovernmental group of 25 maritime nations listed 18 flags on its “black list,” 24 on its “gray list,” and 34 on the best “white list.”

   Countries on the “black list” are: North Korea, Albania, Tonga, Honduras, Comoros, Georgia, Slovakia, Bolivia, Syrian Arab Republic, Cambodia, Algeria, Lebanon, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Turkey, Brazil, Egypt, Ukraine and Taiwan.