Next Tuesday at the National Press Club in Washington, previous United States Deputy Secretary of State and also the initial Director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte will certainly be giving opening up comments, and also Albert Bryan, Governor of the UNITED STATE Virgin Islands, will certainly reveal a brand-new United States Flag open ship computer system registry, in what some maritime specialists are calling one of the most historical minute for United States maritime passions this century.

The delivery sector relocates greater than $4 trillion USD of imports and also exports right into and also out of the United States annually yet, for the previous fifty years, the united state has actually progressively counted on delivery lines from various other nations to bring a lot of these items. Currently, there is just one united state flag delivery business in the leading 30: Matson, placed 26th, with only 0.2% of the worldwide market share.

Over half of the ships that pass through worldwide rivers are signed up in simply 3 territories– Panama, Liberia, and also theMarshall Islands Each of these computer system registries was created with the assistance of the United States Government and also each initially guaranteed industrial benefits together with some level of defense from the United StatesNavy Panama and also Liberia, nevertheless, presently have no defense arrangement in position. The Marshall Islands computer system registry is stated to have a safety and security “understanding” with the United States, yet the information of which are unclear.

According to a white paper launched by the Center for Ocean Policy and also Economics (DEAL) at the Northeast Maritime Institute, ships signed up under the brand-new Virgin Islands Flag will certainly recognize physical and also virtual defense from appropriate United States companies and also the brand-new flag will certainly additionally supply an essential affordable benefit to deliver proprietors.

“The future is becoming increasingly complex and uncertain,” stated Eric R. DawickiPresident of Northeast Maritime Institute and also an executive member of COPE, in a meeting with gCaptain. “We believe that customers, ports, financial markets, and insurance companies are ready to reward ship owners that are more transparent and lean into environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG). We believe a US open registry will protect the rights of seafarers and provide US mariners with more opportunities.”

Dawicki fasted to explain that, while this is an open computer system registry, it will certainly not be a flag of comfort. The United States Virgin Islands is just one of just 5 authorities Overseas Territories of the United States American Virgin Islanders are American Citizens and also USVI business go through United States regulation. The brand-new computer system registry wants to draw in ship proprietors that comprehend this and also want to lean right into ESG efforts.

“We are looking to help shipowners navigate an increasingly uncertain world,” statedDawicki “We are looking to help those who want to do good by doing well.”

An enhancing variety of consumers, banks, and also regulatory authorities are wanting to associate with business that hold themselves to a greater requirement. Less clear is if ship proprietors will certainly want to ditch inexpensive flags of convenience for much better accessibility to resources and also freight. It is additionally vague exactly how the USVI flag will certainly browse the Jones Act, if it will certainly have a different seat at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) or share one with the United States delegation, and also the deepness of its partnership with category cultures, regulatory authorities at the United States Coast Guard, the United States Navy, and also shipowner teams like ICS, BIMCO, INTERTANKO, and also INTERCAGO … which have actually all been asking for greater requirements within the more comprehensive sector.

While these inquiries stay unanswered, agents of the brand-new flag state guarantee openness and also assurance to respond to these challenging inquiries at journalism occasion followingTuesday