National tonnage registry v. open registry : a unique opportunity for Panama

The fundamental premise of this dissertation is that the open registry of vessels system is a better suited alternative for the future of ship registration in the development of international shipping trade and commerce, despite the fact that due to its present deficiencies as a scheme concerning the enforcement of maritime safety and prevention and control of marine pollution from ships, it is discriminated against by national tonnage registries. It also seeks to demonstrate why the Panamanian scheme, despite disclosed evidences of maritime administrative incongruities, seems to be a successful ship registry based on its characteristics as a place for transit and service and the potential connotations of the take-over of the Panama Canal by the republic by the year 2000. It aims to conclude that the future of ship registration in the development of international shipping trade and commerce will not be better served by regional (i.e., EUROS) or individual (i.e. international, offshore and second ship registries) efforts but by the liberal implementation of the open registry of vessels system world-wide, where an 'integral' solution between the maritime players must be agreed upon in order to address the substandard tonnage and 'human factor' issues head-on. PART ONE: THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE MARITIME FLAGS ISSUE. PART TWO: THE BATTLE OF SHIP REGISTRIES. PART THREE: THE PANAMIAN CONNECTION.