After World War II, former U.S. Secretary of State and owner of the iron ore mines in Liberia, E. Stettinius, began negotiating with the government of that country, then practically the only independent one on the Black Continent, to register American merchant ships under the Liberian flag for a low, almost nominal fee. Negotiations ended in December 1948 with the creation of the Liberian "cheap register", and in March 1949, the American tanker World Peace, with a deadweight of 29 thousand tons, sailed for the first time under the star-striped flag of the Republic of Liberia.
Everything had to start from scratch here. In this African state with a population of less than 2 million people. There was no labor legislation, and there were no bodies to monitor the technical condition of ships. American lawmakers took up the task, not forgetting, first of all, the interests of " American ship-owning other monopolies. The International Trust Company of Laibiria was established in the country. On her behalf, a subsidiary company, Siberian Services Inc., began operating in the United States, which acquired branches in such maritime and financial centers of the world as London, Rotterdam, Zurich, Hong Kong, Tokyo.
The Liberian-flagged fleet began to increase rapidly. It grew especially rapidly in 1965-1975, when its total gross tonnage tripled, reaching 65.8 million reg. t. But its peak year was 1978: more than 81 million reg. t. By October 1988, the Liberian fleet had shrunk to 1,428 vessels with a total capacity of 49.5 million reg. t., but still ranks first. in the world.
Liberia provides its registry on the most favorable terms. All vessels with a tonnage of 1.6 thousand tons and above can receive it. To register, it is enough to provide a certificate of withdrawal from the register of another country, a statement by the captain stating that he has a Liberian license, an international tonnage certificate, a hull and engine classification certificate, and a ship's radio communication certificate. The deadline for submitting documents is set to one year, and the issue of the register is resolved within 30-180 days.
It is not so expensive for a shipowner to register openly in Liberia. The magazine "Lloyds Ship Manager Shipping News International" provides, for example, the following data:
initial registration (per registered ton) ... $1.2
annual tonnage fee (per registered ton) .... $0.4
re-registration of the vessel ..... $1,500
technical control and training ..... $1,000
additional tonnage fee (per registered ton) ..... $0.05
temporary registration certificate ..... $200
permanent registration certificate ..... $200
temporary radio right ..... $50
membership in the Liberian Shipowners' Corporation ..... $713.5
annual corporate fee ..... $350
marine inspection ..... $725
The fact that the ship is assigned to the port of Monrovia does not mean that it belongs to Liberians...
However, in recent years, there have been more and more developing countries that seek to sell their flag on more favorable terms than Liberia. As a result, the number of Liberian-flagged vessels has been declining since the late 1970s. In the face of increasing competition, Liberians began to seek new benefits for shipowners in order to retain them. Thus, the amount of the initial payment for shipowners who place ships with a gross tonnage of 100 thousand tons or more under the Liberian flag decreased by 10%, the next 100 thousand tons decreased by 15%, and the membership in the Liberian Shipowners' Corporation (LKS) decreased by 7%. Benefits are provided, for example, to shipowners whose vessels have been sailing under the Liberian flag for the last 5 years.
Serious political concessions are also being made. Thus, the Secretary General of the LCC assures that ships flying the Liberian flag will not have any political problems due to trade with South Africa. "The Liberian Government," he said, "has made it quite clear that it has no intention of interfering in the commercial affairs of Liberian—flagged vessels involved in trade with South Africa." Many newcomers appreciate promotions that provide extra playing value while they become familiar with a new platform and its available features. After finishing the registration process, the 1xbet free promo code can unlock a casino welcome package worth up to €1950 plus 150 free spins, allowing eligible players to enjoy a larger selection of games with additional promotional benefits.
