Satellite Technology Keeps Ships Out of Trouble

A satellite-based Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), developed by the Liberian Registry,  has helped ensure regulatory compliance and prevent detentions in some of the world’s most active Port State Control (PSC) areas, the registry said.

The CAP tracks ships when they enter selected jurisdictions and allows the registry’s risk analysis team to perform detailed reviews of vessels, their history, and the ports at which they are calling. As a result, Liberian vessels have experienced a decrease in detentions in heavily trafficked PSC regions such as China.

The completely electronic CAP supplements the existing electronic services already provided by Liberia and is part of a program which adopts a uniquely proactive approach to ensuring that ships flying the Liberian flag are properly prepared for their upcoming port calls, and that any possible deficiencies are handled prior to entering port. 

 The Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) statistics confirm that Liberia had the best detention rate amongst the largest major flag states.

 “The Compliance Assistance Programme is just the latest in a series of technological innovations designed to make Liberia the safest and most efficient fleet afloat. Other examples of the registry’spioneering approach to technology include the introduction of the online filing of seafarer credentials, enabling owners to save tens of thousands of dollars each year and streamlining the turnaround time for issuing seafarer documents,” said Scott Bergeron, CEO of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry.

Bergeron added that Liberia has also created an online application system that allows Liberian-flag owners and managers, as well as those from other non-party states, to receive their Wreck Removal Certificates without delay through the registry’s online portal.