Name : Kinanthi Inten P.

NRP : 042140000082

Flag State VS Classification Society

From last lecture, we know there are several differences between

traditional flag (also called closed flag) with flag of convenience. While there are
certain requirements to be followed if we register our ship to closed flag, flag of
convenience offers looser regulation. Both of them are the type of flag state. So
what exactly flag state is?.
Flag state is the state in which the ship registered. Its related with the flag
that used by the ship. For example, if a ship display Indonesian’s flag, it means
Indonesian authority has rights to enforce Indonesian regulation to the ship. Its
regulation including about inspection, certification, safety issues, tax and anything
that related to the ship (like crew nationality).
But if the authority has conduct it all, what classification society doing?
We have heard about BKI, ABS and NK, those are the examples of
classification society. Classification society is a legal entity in which classing pre-build
vessels, post-build vessels or in-service vessels by its construction and its engine
(including its auxiliary engine). So, classification society has their own rule in which
usually based on by their research and experience.
Classification society is non-governmental organization. Their job is to
confirm whether the ship compliments the classification standards from the society
that issuing their classification certificate or not. If the ships already confirmed if it
meets the standards, they issue classification certificate so ship’s owners able to
register and get marine insurance for their ships.
In the other hand, it can be said if classification society perform statutory
duties about ship’s safety under flag state regulation. However, some flag state’s
rule may delegate nearly all of the task to classification society. But still, flag state
and classification society are different.
The conclusion is, flag state is related about ship registration about which
authority regulation the ship must follow while the classification society is a
non-governmental organization which issues classification certificate so the owner
can register their ship and get marine insurance.

Additional Question:
1. What is Flag state and what are its task?
2. What is Port state and what are its task?

Answer:
1. A jurisdiction in which the ship are registered. Their task is to enforce state
regulation to the ship. Its regulation including about inspection, certification,
safety issues, tax and anything that related to the ship (like crew nationality).
2. Port state is a country regulation that must be followed by the vessel while in the
country’s water. Their task is to check and control ships in their waters so the
ships can’t be a thread to the other ships, crew members and marine
environment.