The table can be downloaded free of charge via the ICS website - http://www.ics-shipping.org/free-resources/flag-state-performance-table.
It provides an indication of individual flag states performance worldwide, which analyses how the administrations included deliver against a number of criteria, such as port state control records, ratification of international maritime conventions and attendance at IMO meetings.
This year, a new criteria on participation in the ‘IMO Member State Audit Scheme’ was included.
ICS Deputy Secretary General, Simon Bennett, explained: “Following the entry into force of amendments to the relevant IMO conventions, the IMO Member State Audit Scheme has become mandatory. This is a significant development that should make further contributions to improving maritime safety and the prevention of pollution.”
“ICS also recently released a new interactive version of the table, which contains a search facility and allows users to compare and contrast the performance of up to four flag states at a time,” he said.