Why do Owners and Operators choose the Malta Flag?
The Malta Flag is one of the most sought out European flags and has today the highest registered tonnage in Europe and sixth registered tonnage in the world. This was not by chance, but it is the result of years of hard work both from the Registry’s side as well as the service providers in Malta acting as intermediaries for the registration of the vessel. The Malta Flag is the flag of choice for many Shipowners and Operators due to the high quality of the flag and its reputation. Due to being a high quality flag, the Malta Shipping Directorate has attracted over these last years newer and younger ships, where the current average age of a vessel registered in Malta is 10 years.
The philosophy of the Malta Administration was and remains to grow the registered tonnage of the flag whilst retaining quality in the type of vessels it registers. This standard in quality further attracted younger tonnage to the Maltese register thus contributing toward the lowering in the average age registered under the flag. As a rule, vessels of and over twenty-five years of age are not accepted to be registered in Malta. Quality is key with the Malta Flag State both upon registration and for the duration of the registration.
The proof of the good technical performance of the vessels flying the Malta Flag can be seen in Malta’s ranking in the top 20 countries on the White List of the Paris MoU where Malta presently holds the 14th position. The Malta Flag meets the flag criteria for a Low Risk Ship and vessels benefit from this as they are less targeted during Port State Controls.
The Maltese maritime jurisdiction is built on a very strong legal framework and Malta is a party to the major International Conventions, thus giving peace of mind to Owners and Operators. In fact, this can be seen through major shipping operators choosing the Malta Flag to be the choice of flag for their fleet.
AML’s expertise in flag registration gives Owners and Managers a value added and personalized service through the know-how of our registration department which comes with almost 30 years’ experience in the industry. We give peace of mind to owners by ensuring that the reflagging process will be a smooth and efficient operation and guarantee our full support during the full period of registration of the vessel.
At AML we secure the right solutions for all your maritime needs. Contact us on maltaflag@amlmalta.com for further information or assistance.
