Ecomare

The inspectors of the Port State Control in participating harbours visit around 18,000 ships every year. Approximately 9% of these inspections result in seizing the ship till the necessary repairs have been carried out. That percentage first decreased (since 1982), however rose steeply between 1989 and 2001. This was because the controls in the various countries were better coordinated and because fewer ships complied with the requirements. More so-called inexpensive flag countries appeared where less faithful owners have nothing to fear from fewer controls.
In 2001, Turkey, Panama, Malta, Saint Vincent and Cyprus were on the top of the list of countries with ships showing many deficiencies. The list of countries with little control of their own register also contain many names of countries around the Mediterranean Sea, such as Syria, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon and Malta. Since 1993, Malta has employed 42 extra inspectors to inspect ships worldwide sailing under the Maltese flag.