Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 February 2008
87 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that while only about one quarter of the worlds commercial cargo ships, approximately 85,000, operate under the flag of convenience system, yet almost one half of all ships and nearly all container ships, trading into Irish seaports operate under FoC’s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7397/08]
View answerThe concept of "flag of convenience" is not a formally recognized system. There are officially recognised systems in both the EU and International organisations for identifying high-risk ships these include the "Black, Grey and White" list of flag states published by the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, the list is published on www.parismou.org. This list is used for targeting safety inspections on ships visiting Irish and European ports. Details of inspections and detentions are published on the Department's website at www.transport.ie.
