US Coast Guard: Decision to include Greece in the QUALSHIP-21 Initiative for the period 2021-2022

The process of Greece’s accession to the “QUALSHIP 21” initiative for the period 2021-2022 has been completed, according to the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy.

It is noted that this Initiative was launched in 2001, introducing a quality assessment and incentive system for foreign-flagged ships arriving in US ports.

The above Decision is the recognition of Greece as a Quality Flag State and is based, according to a letter from the competent office of the American Coast Guard, on the excellent performance of ships under the Greek Flag during the Port State Control of the American Coast Guard. during the last three years. It is noted that for this period, the rate of detention of ships under the Greek flag that were inspected in US ports. is less than 1%, which is a basic condition for the US Maritime Administration to accept a country to participate in this initiative.

Program target

It is pointed out that, the goal of the QUALSHIP-21 Initiative is to eliminate shipping with reduced levels of safety while rewarding Shipping Administrations, as well as ships and shipping companies, that have undertaken commitments related to maritime safety and security in shipping (Quality Shipping).

With this decision, ships under the Greek flag that meet the relevant criteria of the US Coast Guard and will be classified as Q21, will enjoy privileges (eg reduction of the number of Port State inspections for PV ships, reduction of the scope of inspections for D / X, supply with quality certificate, etc.), during their approaches to US ports.

The Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Mr. Giannis Plakiotakis, referring to the inclusion of the Greek flag in Qualship 21, underlined that “this positive result is a result of the mutual effort, both from the shipping industry and the shipping management to maintain a high level of seagoing shipping and the Greek flag in general ”.