GERMAN FLAG - on Course with Quality and Safety

Our Service Team takes care of any customer requests regarding the German Flag around the clock. We offer comprehensive and emergency infos to assist shipping companies and seafarers. The German Flag has been issuing ship certificates digitally since 2015 – quick and simple.

The people working at the German Flag have a practical approach because they have worked in the maritime industry and bring in their experience to get to a practical solution. Many of our employees are navigational and engineering officers who have spent time at sea and know what is important on board

The experts of the German Flag assist our customers from our base in Hamburg. A personal conversation cannot replaced by anything after all. But the German Flag has "homeports" worldwide as well. Seafarers and shipowners will always find a reliable point of contact with one of our over 220 German embassies and consulates.

The German Flag is not a privately organized flag register trying to generate the largest possible profit – this is a real profit for our customers. Additionally, 100% subsidization of wage taxes and social contributions make the German Flag an asset in the stiff competition shipowners have to face. Moreover, shipping companies also profit from high subsidies for seafarers' training and low fees.

Legal certainty is an important locational factor. Germany offers with clear laws, an administration that works in a transparent way and independent courts stable and secure general set-up. In addition, Germany is part of almost 60 bilateral shipping agreements. This means that with the German Flag shipping companies and seafarers profit from free access to international transport markets and an easy entry, transit and stay of the ship's crew in ports.

The German Flag is the "training flag". Shipping companies with ships flying the German Flag offer training disproportionately more often than other flags and this gains them seafarers made to measure for their needs on board their fleet of ships. Convincingly sustainable too is the globally one-of-a-kind social security of seafarers on German-flagged ships – all subsidized by the German Flag. This is a real bonus in time of skilled labour shortage.

Germany and the German Flag are held in high esteem all over the world. "Made in Germany" stands for high quality and reliability in the international arena. In particular during port State controls abroad, the great reputation of Black-Red-GOLD is of great value.

Bright skies – any flag can work with that. But maritime shipping is often faced with stormy seas. Especially during crises and pandemics, the reliability of the German Flag pays off. We support and advise shipping companies and seafarers – no matter the storm to weather.

Maritime shipping is becoming climate neutral. With technical innovations, close interlinking of the sciences and the economy as well as research grants, the German Flag supports shipping companies headed for more environmental sustainability.

With the Maritime Labour Act and nine legal ordinances, the German Flag offers a transparent legal framework for fair working conditions on board. Our regular checks and audits ensure an effective implementation of the legal requirements. We diligently follow-up on every complaint we receive and make sure that seafarers' rights are protected.

The German Flag makes sure of top tier medical care on board. The Maritime Medical Handbook assists seafarers with a practical approach just as much as the telemedical maritime assistance service in Cuxhaven. Whether Malaria protection or help when faced with extreme psychological burdens – we are there for seafarers.

Germany offers seafarers sailing under German Flag a strong legal security with effective laws, independent courts and an administration with integrity. In addition, Germany is part of almost 60 bilateral shipping agreements. This means that with the German Flag seafarers profit from free access to international transport markets and an easy entry, transit and stay in ports.

High standards of quality, ship safety and occupational health and safety are part of the tradition of the German Flag. Already since the 19th century has the mutual indemnity association (Berufsgenossenschaft) provided for the best possible occupational protection on board. The Handbook of Safe Working Practices is just one example of how practical prevention can avert work accidents on board.

With over 220 German embassies and consulates all over the world, seafarers sailing under German Flag always have a liable point of contact. These German "homeports" abroad offer reliable consular protection – whether it is about a serious health issue or a problem with local authorities.

Our 24/7 Service Team takes care of any request regarding the German Flag around the clock. Seafarers also profit from our comprehensive support and our emergency infos. Our Calculation Aid for Seagoing Service and infos on selected health matters concerning seafarers are just two examples of our custom-fit digital services for seafarers.

Maritime vocational training "Made in Germany" has an excellent reputation. Shipping companies with ships flying the German Flag offer training disproportionately more often than other flags – the German Flag is the "Training Flag". The Foundation Schifffahrtsstandort Deutschland financially supports professional development of seafarers.

Working in close cooperation with seafarers' and shipowners' associations in Germany is a real advantage for employers: In the "Maritime Alliance" the associations together with the federal government and coastal states agree upon initiatives for more training and employment in the German maritime sector. The freedom to form a coalition, which means the right to form a union or a employer association is ingrained in our Constitution.

Germany and the German Flag are held in high esteem all over the world. "Made in Germany" stands for high quality and reliability in the international arena. The good image of Black-Red-GOLD is also a pro for ship crews – for example, because it inspectors do not expect to encounter problems on board German-flagged ships.