The Malta Flag has been recognised as a top performing flag state by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) under QUALSHIP21.
The QUALSHIP21 initiative, which represents quality shipping for the 21st century, was setup on January 1, 2001 by the USCG in order to identify high-quality ships and reward them for their commitment to safety and quality. This is the first time that the Malta Ship Registry has been recognised under the QUALSHIP21 initiative and demonstrates the dedication and commitment of the Malta Flag State to providing a high-quality flag.
Vessels are examined no less than once each year and the list of fully qualified flag administrations are updated annually on 30 June. This date marks the beginning that any newly qualified flag administration’s vessels may begin to enroll in the program and closes enrollment for vessels registered to flags that are no longer qualified. If a flag administration is no longer qualified for the program, any of their vessels currently enrolled in QUALSHIP 21 may remain in the program until their QUALSHIP 21 certificate expires
The following flag administrations have met all the requirements for full participation in the QUALSHIP 21 program (Valid through the end of June 2023):
| Bahamas | 7/2022 – 6/2023 |
| Barbados | Bermuda |
| Canada | Cayman Islands |
| China | Denmark |
| France | Germany |
| Gibraltar | Greece |
| Hong Kong | Isle of Man |
| Italy | Jamaica |
| Japan | Liberia |
| Malta | Marshall Islands |
| Netherlands | Norway |
| Phillippines | Republic of Korea |
| Saudi Arabia | Singapore |
| Spain | United Kingdom |
