ABSTRACT
Our study of the elements of shipping would not be complete without a look at the main political aspects of the subject: flag discrimination, flags of convenience and subsidies.
Flag discrimination comprises the wide variety of acts and pressures exerted by governments to direct cargoes to ships of their own flag, regardless of the commercial considerations which normally govern the routeing of cargoes. It also applies to directing their port authorities to offer more favourable rates and bunker charges to the national flag vessels.
