Flag State Ranking
A comparative view of flag state performance from 2012 to 2025, built from Paris MoU, Tokyo MoU, and US Coast Guard Qualship 21 data. Use it as a starting point for a conversation, not a substitute for advice specific to your vessel.
Choosing a flag state is one of the most consequential decisions a vessel owner makes, and performance data is one useful input into that decision, alongside eligibility, cost, and the practical realities of your ownership structure. This tool lets you look up how a flag state has performed, year by year, since 2012.
How this ranking is built
Each flag state’s position is derived from how it is assessed by the maritime authorities and inspection regimes it is actually subject to. We combine the following sources into a single ranking per year:
Paris MoU
Port state control performance across Europe and the North Atlantic. Flag states are placed on a White, Grey, or Black list based on detention history.
Tokyo MoU
The equivalent regime for the Asia-Pacific region, covering flag states that Paris MoU does not, or confirming performance for those it does.
US Coast Guard Qualship 21
Recognises flag states maintaining a detention rate under 1% over a rolling three-year window in US ports. Tracked as a straightforward yes/no from 2020 onward.
Performance Score
Where available, a single normalised score (0-100) summarising the above into one comparable figure for that year.
On data quality: Reporting has become more complete and more standardised since roughly 2020. For 2012-2019, the overall ranking position for each flag state is intact, but the Performance Score and some Paris/Tokyo MoU positions are not available in our source data for that period. Where a year has a gap, we say so directly on the table below rather than estimating a number that was not reported.
This ranking is one input among several. It does not replace an assessment of your specific vessel, ownership structure, and intended use, which we are glad to talk through directly.
Look up a flag state
| Rank | Flag state | Paris MoU | Tokyo MoU | USCG Qualship 21 | Score |
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Not sure how your flag state stacks up in practice?
Rankings are a starting point. We are happy to talk through what a specific flag state’s performance actually means for your vessel, your sailing area, and your ownership structure – without obligation.