With the recent addition of 2.7 Million GT of new tankers, the Liberian tanker fleet now stands at 57.4 Million Gross Tons (GT) per Clarkson’s, making Liberia the world’s leading tanker flag in terms of Gross Tonnage.
The Liberian Registry, with a total fleet size of 205 Million GT, has not only grown to be the world’s leading tanker flag, but has also maintained its position as the world’s leading containership flag with 18% of global container vessel market share; and is the fastest-growing major registry in the world with a 6.6% growth rate year–to-date.
This has been a year of milestones for the Liberian Registry, which just recently passed the historic 200 Million GT mark. This overall fleet growth has largely been due to an increase in newbuilding orders recently delivered, especially with larger modern dual-fuel vessels, oil tankers, LNG carriers, and Mega Containerships. Aiding in the high volume of vessels flagging into the registry has been a streamlining of registration processes and the increasing ease with which vessels, both existing and newbuildings, can be flagged into the registry; Liberia being white-listed in the Paris MOU and Tokyo MOU; and its dedicated team of maritime professionals supporting the fleet.
Alfonso Castillero, Chief Operating Officer of the Liberian International Ship and Corporate Registry (LISCR) says: “I am very pleased to see the Liberian Registry move into the leading position to be the preferred flag State for tanker owners and operators around the world. This is no accident. Our commitment to safety, compliance, and bringing cost-savings to the Liberian flagged fleet are huge contributing factors.”
Benson Peretti, Executive Vice President at LISCR continued: “We have been able to appeal to tanker owners specifically, not just due to our cost-advantages, but thanks in large part to our continuously improving safety rankings; our detention prevention program; and our global network of 24/7 localized support. What is also so encouraging about this development is in the type of technologically advanced and fuel efficient vessels we have been registering.”