The second most widely used ship registry by tonnage introduced cost-savings measures in a bid to ease the financial strain on owners and operators, as well as entice more ships to its flag state.
The Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian flag, said it will waive the certification and mortgage-related fees for registration transactions in Liberia, as well as the fees for the reissuance of safety and port facility certificates for vessels transferring to the registry.
Shipowners will also be able to pay tonnage tax on a bi-annual instalment plan, rather than an annual lump-sum payment, upon request.
Any owner that registers a vessel for the purpose of immediate lay-up, LISCR said it would waive a variety of fees and tonnage taxes through the duration of the lay-up.
LISCR also said some owners can apply to extend dry dock periods from every five years to every seven-and-a half years. The less frequent dry dockings apply to ships not subject to the International Maritime Organisation’s enhanced survey programme.
Scott Bergeron, chief executive of LISCR, says: “We believe it is essential to support the shipping industry during these extremely difficult times. The initiatives we have announced supplement those cost-efficiency measures which are already available to Liberian-flag vessels.”
