Legal instruments on: Flag

Every State shall issue to ships to which it has granted the right to fly its flag documents to that effect. 📑Read more

Ships shall sail under the flag of one State only and, save in exceptional cases expressly provided for in international treaties or in this Convention, shall be subject to its exclusive jurisdiction on the high seas. A ship may not change its flag during a voyage or while in a port of call, save in the case of a real transfer of ownership or change of registry. 📑Read more

A ship which sails under the flags of two or more States, using them according to convenience, may not claim any of the nationalities in question with respect to any other State, and may be assimilated to a ship without nationality. 📑Read more

Ships sailing under the flag of the United Nations, its specialized agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency, which are on official service, shall be subject to the provisions of this Part, except as otherwise provided in agreements between the Organization concerned and the flag State. 📑Read more

Every State shall effectively exercise its jurisdiction and control in administrative, technical and social matters over ships flying its flag. 📑Read more

In particular every State shall: (a) maintain a register of ships containing the names and particulars of ships flying its flag, except those which are excluded from generally accepted international regulations on account of their small size; and (b) assume jurisdiction under its internal law over each ship flying its flag and its master, officers and crew in respect of administrative, technical and social matters concerning the s ... 📑Read more

Every State shall take such measures for ships flying its flag as are necessary to ensure safety at sea with regard, inter alia, to: (a) the construction, equipment and seaworthiness of ships; (b) the manning of ships, labour conditions and the training of crews, taking into account the applicable international instruments; (c) the use of signals, the maintenance of communications and the prevention of collisions. 📑Read more

A State which has clear grounds to believe that proper jurisdiction and control with respect to a ship have not been exercised may report the facts to the flag State. Upon receiving the report, the flag State shall investigate the matter and, if appropriate, take any action necessary to remedy the situation. 📑Read more

Each State shall cause an inquiry to be held by or before a suitably qualified person or persons into every marine casualty or incident of navigation on the high seas involving a ship flying its flag and causing loss of life or serious injury to nationals of another State or serious damage to ships or installations of another State or to the marine environment. The flag State and the other State shall cooperate in the conduct of a ... 📑Read more

Warships on the high seas have complete immunity from the jurisdiction of any State other than the flag State. 📑Read more