Hong Kong has for the first time qualified for the US Coast Guard's tough QUALSHIP 21 scheme. 

The city was recognised as a quality flag under the scheme because its ships visiting US ports had performed excellently in port inspections in the past three years.

Thirteen other flag states have also been granted eligibility for the scheme which became effective on January 1, 2001.

The scheme aims to eliminate substandard shipping by providing owners who maintain quality operations with incentives.

To be qualified for the scheme, a vessel may not be registered with a flag state that has a detention ratio greater than or equal to 1%, determined on a three-year rolling average, and the flag state must have at least 10 distinct arrivals in each of the past three years.

The flag state must also have submitted its Self-Assessment of Flag State Performance to the International Maritime Organisation and also it must have provided a copy to the US Coast Guard.

Qualified vessels subject to fewer inspections 

All quality vessels receive a QUALSHIP 21 certificate and their names are posted on the US Port State Control website.

With the certificate, a quality freight ship will be subject to fewer Port State Control inspections for a period of two years. Future initiatives will include reduced port fees.