Maritime Administration and Flag State Implementation: Ship Registration and IMSAS Audit – London, 29 Mar – 2 Apr 2027

Programme overview

Introduction:

Maritime administration and flag state performance is judged by how well a registry controls the ships flying its flag: whether registration files prove a genuine link, whether delegated surveys by recognised organisations are monitored, whether casualties are investigated and whether detentions abroad are followed up. Gaps surface as port state detentions, targeting lists and audit findings under IMSAS. This Core Concept course gives registry, survey and inspection staff working procedures for each flag, port and coastal state task. Participants produce a Flag State Implementation Review and Corrective Action Plan for a case administration.

Course Objectives:

• Distinguish the duties a maritime administration carries as flag, port and coastal state under UNCLOS and IMO instruments and map them to internal units
• Process ship registration files, including provisional registration, bareboat charter registration, mortgages and deletion from the register
• Issue and control statutory certificates and supervise surveys delegated to recognised organisations through written agreements and oversight visits
• Plan flag state inspections, respond to port state detentions of own-flag ships and conduct casualty investigation follow-up
• Maintain seafarer certificate records and endorsements that withstand verification requests from other administrations
• Prepare the administration for an IMSAS audit using the III Code and track performance indicators for the register

Target Audience:

• Registry officers who examine ownership evidence, issue registration documents and record mortgages and deletions
• Flag state surveyors and inspectors who verify statutory certificates and inspect own-flag ships
• Port state control officers who board foreign ships and exchange detention information with flag administrations
• Seafarer certification and records staff who issue, endorse and verify certificates of competency
• Shipping company regulatory affairs staff who manage flag changes, certificates and administration correspondence
• Policy and quality staff who coordinate implementation of IMO instruments and audit preparation within an administration

Course Outline:

Day 1: Maritime Administration Roles and Jurisdiction of Flag, Port and Coastal States

• UNCLOS Jurisdiction Map: Flag State, Port State and Coastal State Powers Over Ships
• Genuine Link Test and Nationality of Ships Under UNCLOS
• Maritime Administration Organisation Chart: Registry, Survey, Inspection, Casualty and Seafarer Units
• National Registers, Open Registries and Second Registers: Operating Model Comparison
• Administration Function Inventory and Current-State Gap Scan

Day 2: IMO Instruments Implementation, the III Code and the IMSAS Audit Cycle

• IMO Instrument Lifecycle: Ratification, Accession, Domestic Enactment and Amendment Tracking
• III Code Structure: Common Areas, Flag State, Coastal State and Port State Parts
• IMSAS Audit Cycle: Scoping Questionnaire, Onsite Audit, Findings and Corrective Action Plan
• Legislative Transposition Matrix Linking Each Instrument to Primary and Secondary Legislation
• Administration Documented Procedures Manual and Records Retention Schedule

Day 3: Ship Registration, Statutory Certification and Recognised Organisation Oversight

• Registration File Review: Bill of Sale, Builder Certificate, Deletion Certificate and Ownership Evidence
• Provisional Registration, Bareboat Charter Registration In and Out and Dual Register Controls
• Ship Mortgage Recording, Priority Ranking and Closure on Deletion From the Register
• Recognised Organisation Delegation Agreement: Scope of Authorisation, Reporting and Oversight Visits
• Statutory Certificate Issue, Endorsement, Extension and Exemption Register

Day 4: Flag State Inspections, Casualty Investigation, Seafarer Records and Port State Control Interface

• Risk-Based Flag State Inspection Programme: Ship Selection Criteria and Inspection Report Template
• Port State Detention Notification: Flag Response, Rectification Evidence and Detention Record Review
• Marine Casualty Investigation Duties: Notification, Evidence Preservation and Report Publication
• Seafarer Certificate of Competency Issue, Endorsement Recognition and Verification Request Handling
• Regional Port State Control MOU Performance Lists and Flag Performance Indicator Dashboard

Day 5: Case Study: Flag State Implementation Review for a Case Administration

• Case Administration Evidence Pack: Legislation, Registry Statistics, Delegation Agreements and Detention Record
• Mock IMSAS Interview With Registry and Survey Unit Heads
• Finding Classification and Root Cause Grouping Against III Code Parts
• Corrective Action Plan Drafting: Actions, Owners, Milestones and Verification Evidence
• Flag State Implementation Review Presentation and Peer Challenge

Skills You Will Gain:

• Maritime Jurisdiction Mapping
• Ship Registry File Examination
• Bareboat Charter Registration Control
• Recognised Organisation Oversight
• Flag State Inspection Planning
• Detention Follow-Up Handling
• Seafarer Certificate Verification
• III Code Self-Assessment

Why Attend This Course:

• Return with a Flag State Implementation Review and Corrective Action Plan built on a case administration and tested by peers
• Handle a registration, flag change or deletion file with a checklist that shows which document proves each point
• Answer a port state detention of an own-flag ship with evidence the registry and inspectors can stand behind
• Compare registry, inspection and audit practice with staff from administrations, ports and shipping companies

Conclusion:

A maritime administration earns trust for its flag through daily control of registration, certification, inspection and casualty work. The course moves from flag, port and coastal state jurisdiction and administration structure, through IMO instrument implementation, the III Code and the IMSAS audit cycle, to registration, mortgages, bareboat charter registration and recognised organisation oversight, then to inspections, detentions, casualty investigation and seafarer records. The final day produces a Flag State Implementation Review and Corrective Action Plan for a case administration.