ACCREDITATION
Qualifies the QUALSHIP 21 initiative of the US Coast Guard
US Coast Guard efforts to eliminate substandard shipping have focused on improving methods to
identify poor-quality vessels (targeting schemes). However, regardless of the score that a
vessel
receives in the targeting matrix, all foreign-flagged vessels are examined no less than once
each
year. This provides few incentives for the well run, quality ship. Hundreds, perhaps thousands,
of
vessels are operated responsibly, and are typically found with few or no deficiencies. Under our
current policies, vessels operating at a higher-quality share nearly the same examination
intervals
as those vessels operating at lower-quality standards. These high-quality vessels should be
recognized and rewarded for their commitment to safety and quality.