Flag State Inspections

Vessel Safety Inspections

National Cargo Bureau inspectors are authorized to conduct vessel Safety Inspections on behalf of the following Flag Administrations:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Luxembourg
• Marshall Islands
• Vanuatu

These inspections are carried out in order to assist these Flag Administrations in meeting their international obligations to provide oversight of vessels trading under their flags.

Incident Investigations

National Cargo Bureau personnel may conduct preliminary incident or casualty investigations on behalf of Flag Administrations, liaising with other parties of interest as appropriate. Reports on serious casualties should be provided by the appropriate Flag Administration to the International Maritime Organization so that lessons can be learned and recommendations made.National Cargo Bureau preliminary investigation reports may form the basis of these.

Miscellaneous Representation

National Cargo Bureau personnel may be called upon to attend on board and provide advice on behalf of various flag administrations for a wide variety of purposes, including:

• Delivery of Flag Administration documents
• Endorsement of Flag Administration documents
• Issuance of Carving and Marking notes
• Liaising with U.S. authorities in the event of an incident
• Liaising with USCG in the event of a negative Port State Control inspection
• Flag Administration detention when serious deficiencies are identified and not rectified in a timely manner