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3 CIS H 20118
TITLE: Vessel Operations Under Flags of Convenience and Their Implications on National Security

CIS-NO: 2003-H201-18  
SOURCE: Committee on Armed Services. House  
DOC-TYPE: Hearing Retrieve the full text of testimony  
DATE: June 13, 2002  
LENGTH: iv+174 p.  
CONG-SESS: 107-2  
ITEM-NO: 1012-C-01; 1012-D-01  
SUDOC: Y4.AR5/2A:2001-2002/42  


SUMMARY:
Committee Serial H.A.S.C. No. 107-42. Hearing before the Special Oversight Panel on the Merchant Marine to examine national security implications of widespread use by the U.S. and foreign merchant marine industries of flag-of-convenience vessels. Flag-of-convenience vessels are vessels registered with certain foreign governments that offer tax breaks, reduced regulation, and other business incentives to shipowners.
 
Focuses on concerns about the possible use of flag-of-convenience vessels for terrorist activities, in light of the lack of transparency about actual ownership of such vessels and uncertainty about validity of identification documents and professional qualifications of seamen serving on these vessels.
 
Also examines the Liberian flag-of-convenience registry, in light of allegations that revenues from Liberian register were diverted to Liberian President Charles Taylor to fund insurgency and terrorist activities.
 
Supplementary material (p. 75-174) includes witnesses' written statements and written replies to Panel questions, and articles.

CONTENT-NOTATION: Flag-of-convenience vessels ops, natl security implications; Liberia ship registry revenues alleged diversion to support insurgency and terrorism

DESCRIPTORS:  
    CORRUPTION AND BRIBERY; FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS; HOMELAND SECURITY; INSURGENCY; LIBERIA; MERCHANT MARINE; MERCHANT SEAMEN; PANEL ON THE MERCHANT MARINE, SPECIAL OVERSIGHT. HOUSE; SHIPS AND SHIPBUILDING; TAX INCENTIVES AND SHELTERS; TAYLOR, CHARLES; TERRORISM; TRANSPORTATION REGULATION

03-H201-18 TESTIMONY NO: 1     June 13, 2002 p. 2-9, 149-170
 
WITNESSES (and witness notations):
   WOLF, FRANK R. (Rep, R-Va)
 
STATEMENT AND DISCUSSION:
   Concerns about Charles Taylor's access to revenues from the Liberian flag-of-convenience ship registry (related materials, p. 149-170).
 
CONTENT NOTATION:
   Liberia ship registry revenues alleged diversion to support insurgency and terrorism
 
 
03-H201-18 TESTIMONY NO: 2     June 13, 2002 p. 9-36, 87-102
 
WITNESSES (and witness notations):
   SCHUBERT, WILLIAM G. (Administrator, Maritime Administration)
   PLUTA, PAUL J. (Rear Adm.) (Assistant Commandant, Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection, Coast Guard)
 
STATEMENTS AND DISCUSSION:
   Comments regarding flag-of-convenience and U.S.-flag vessels; perspectives on seamen documentation and other maritime security issues.
 
CONTENT NOTATION:
   Flag-of-convenience vessels ops, natl security implications
 
TESTIMONY DESCRIPTORS:
   COAST GUARD; MARITIME ADMINISTRATION
 
 
03-H201-18 TESTIMONY NO: 3     June 13, 2002 p. 36-73, 103-145
 
WITNESSES (and witness notations):
   HEINDEL, DAVID (Second Vice Chairman, Seafarers', Fisheries and Inland Navigation Section, International Transport Workers' Federation; also representing Seafarers' International Union of North America)
   MORRIS, PETER (Chairman, International Commission on Shipping)
   VINES, ALEX (Senior Researcher, Human Rights Watch)
   COHEN, YORAM M. (CEO, Liberian International Ship and Corporate Registry, LLC)
 
STATEMENTS AND DISCUSSION:
   Perspectives on flag-of-convenience vessels and related issues, including credentialing and documentation of seamen; concerns about Liberian flag-of-convenience registry; operations of Liberian registry and related security issues and initiatives.
 
CONTENT NOTATION:
   Flag-of-convenience vessels ops, natl security implications; Liberia ship registry revenues alleged diversion to support insurgency and terrorism
 
TESTIMONY DESCRIPTORS:
   HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH; INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON SHIPPING; INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT WORKERS' FEDERATION; LIBERIAN INTERNATIONAL SHIP AND CORPORATE REGISTRY, LLC; SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA

LOAD-DATE: May 19, 2004