Liberia and China join forces to bolster maritime safety

The Liberian Maritime Authority and the Maritime Safety Administration of China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bolster and expand on their existing working relationship in the areas of maritime safety.

As informed, the delegates concluded this MoU in Beijing in October this year after several months of close discussions and cooperation. 

The areas focused on by both parties are port state control and marine environmental protection. Furthermore, the countries will work to promote and facilitate maritime transport between both nations. They will also focus their attention to promote the safety of navigation at sea, seafarer training and welfare, and other areas concerning the safety of vessels at sea.

The partners noted that this agreement is a part of a broader deal signed between Liberia and China which will see “Liberian flagged vessels given preferential status for reductions in port dues in China.”

The Liberian Registry has a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews supporting international legislation designed to maintain and improve the safety and effectiveness of the shipping industry and protection of the marine environment.

The registry was the first ship registry to join Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change. The signatories of the declaration have committed to improving seafarers’ position in the maritime industry, working also on problems related to the crew change crisis caused by COVID-19.

Moreover, the registry has become the preferred tanker flag in the world, with the recent addition of 2.7 million gross tonnes of new tankers. Its tanker fleet now encompasses 57.4 million GT according to Clarksons.

This overall fleet growth has largely been due to an increase in newbuilding orders recently delivered, especially with larger modern dual-fuel vessels, oil tankers, liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, and mega containerships.