Cunard to Malta or Bermuda registy?

[Tom McNikon]

Cruise liner company Cunard is considering a move out of the British shipping registry to another country such as Malta or Bermuda, which would allow captains to perform on-ship weddings ceremonies, the Financial Times speculated this week.

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.a...sitemid=132628

[pakarang]

Sad if they do, but they are still flagging the vessels to a (former) crown colony of the UK.

I find the reason for this proposed flag change a bit strange though.

So much work, and so much extra cost, just to allow the captains to marry people?

[Skyward]

Jan Olav-- I agree with you, must be other reasons to flag out. Taxes, cost of doing business under British flag, etc, etc? How many weddings can there be?
Jeff

[pilotdane]

I am sure money is behind is somehow and there is little money in weddings.

[pakarang]

I am sure money is behind is somehow and there is little money in weddings.

That is what I first thought as well.... it's like peeing in the Atlantic to make it warmer.

It can't be the real reason, but more a reason based of public relation.

I would guess something with taxation of the vessels, maybe less stringent crew requirements or classification rules.

I do not however see the new flag as a FOC (flag of convenience) though.

[Tom McNikon]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-15378560

[pilotdane]

This article on Cruise Critic paints the reason for the change on the ability to perform weddings at sea and crew salaries. When flagged in the UK Cunard is required to pay all EU worker equivalent to what a British citizen would receive which would apply to eastern Europeans employed on the ships.

[ehp]

I would love to know what the cost savings are estimated to be. Because I can't BELIEVE all this scrapping of tradition is so that three men can perform weddings...romantic as that is........

[ombugge]

That is what I first thought as well.... it's like peeing in the Atlantic to make it warmer.

It can't be the real reason, but more a reason based of public relation.

I would guess something with taxation of the vessels, maybe less stringent crew requirements or classification rules.

I do not however see the new flag as a FOC (flag of convenience) though.

What is a "Flag of Convenience" today?? What about the Norwegian International Shipregister (NIS)??
Nearly ALL flags offer tax free status for shipping. In fact some even offer subsidies to do so. (I.e. USA)
The difference is the tonnage fee for registering a ship under various flags.

In fact the there are not many true FOCs left, but even those are IMO members and have to comply with STCW'95 for Officer and Crew certification and training. The difference is in the wages paid to crews, not the numbers or qualifications, at lest not on "normal" ships.
I don't know how this works on Cruise Ships, where the majority of crew members are in the Catering and Hospitality categories and doesn't come under "Safe Manning" and STCW'95 requirements, except for Sea Survival Training, Medical certificates etc.

As for Class Rules, those are concerned with structural strength and machinery quality and is dependent on which Classification Society a ship is under, not the flag it flies. If a member of the "big" and internationally recognized Societies the standard is more or less the same, and IMO compliant. There are some smaller and mainly "national" Classification Societies where the rules are known to be applied more leniently. (No names here)

On top of this we have Flag State Inspections and Port State Control, under the Tokyo and Paris MOU regime, which allows the authorities in ANY Port to inspect any vessel under any flag. Findings under this regime follow the ship from port to port and is publicly available. A vessel can be detained in port for serious infringement of rule, also regardless of flag.

Is the system perfect??? No, far from it. Ships with serious defects and with a culture of lack safety culture is still sailing around, many of them under what is seen as "quality flags". But there is a general trend of Owner/Managers and Flag of ships detained. This is being identified and published in Shipping news world wide.

[pakarang]

I still find it a bit strange to change the flag, and to take upon themselves all the cost of changing flag, just to hold weddings on board....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-16102122

[ehp]

A wedding on board a Cunard ship would not be my first choice for location......

[pakarang]

A wedding on board a Cunard ship would not be my first choice for location......

Neither would Las Vegas be.....

[pakarang]

A wedding on board a Cunard ship would not be my first choice for location......

Neither would Las Vegas be.....

[Tommi]

New home port for QM2 is Hamilton.
Some pictures from the god of maritime photography: http://www.prachtvoll.de/11/ausdocke...2/default.aspx

[pakarang]

New home port for QM2 is Hamilton.
Some pictures from the god of maritime photography: http://www.prachtvoll.de/11/ausdocke...2/default.aspx

That link is highly recommended... I have followed this guy for years already, and he is top-notch.... let me repeat that this link and his site is HIGHLY recommended.