Malta’s flag may represent a small island nation, but its presence across the world’s shipping lanes means it is never far from the consequences of global conflict.
The random opening and closing of the Strait of Hormuz is enough to drive a normal person wild. But our thoughts should go out to the crews of the ships which need to navigate this dangerous situation. And in the thick of it have been several Maltese-flagged ships.
A Maltese-flagged container ship became the first to transit safely through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday since March 1, when the Strait was essentially closed. The Kribi, owned by French maritime transport group successfully exited the Gulf on April 3. It was the first known transit by a major European shipping group since crossings were reduced to a trickle.
Malta flagged doesn’t mean they are Maltese-owned but it serves as a reminder that a small island thousands of kilometres from the conflict can find itself in the eye of the storm.
Malta has long been an important maritime port since the early days of trade across the Mediterranean, as well as a strategic military shipyard in times of conflict. In the 1970s the Maltese government fought to establish the ‘Malta Flag’ instead of the British Flag, as Malta was still considered a British port at the time.
With assistance from figures in the Greek shipping industry, the Malta Flag was marketed to ship owners and operators, and Malta gradually gained a reputation as an efficient and technically capable registry and shipyard service. Its strategic geographical location, growing relevance as a commercial centre, and cultural similarities with nearby countries, such as Italy, helped increase the flag’s popularity during the 1990s. Despite concerns in 2004 that entering the EU would damage the industry through tighter regulations, Malta’s shipping industry continued to grow.
Around this time, Malta was facing criticism as a result of the Erika incident, when a Malta-flagged oil tanker broke into two, polluting around 400 kilometres of the French coastline. Considered one of the worst environmental disasters in maritime history, the incident prompted the Maltese government to adopt stricter laws and regulations governing ship registration.
Against competition from more established ship registries, Malta’s strong reputation and generous financial incentives helped it become the largest merchant shipping flag in Europe and one of the top ten worldwide.
Indicative of how precarious the situation remains, the Malta-flagged container ship, Safeen Prestige, was damaged by a projectile while sailing near the northern end of the Strait of Hormuz on March 5, prompting its crew to abandon ship.
It was reported, that on April 18 the Celestyal Discovery, a 680-cabin cruise ship flagged with Malta, was the first passenger ship to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
Malta’s flag may represent a small island nation, but its presence across the world’s shipping lanes means it is never far from the consequences of global conflict.
