Private Agency for the German Flag

The German flag is becoming more and more attractive - thanks to better service and less bureaucracy. Nevertheless, only a small portion of the German merchant fleet sails under the German flag. To change this, the Federal Ministry of Transport intends -provided there is sufficient interest in the published call for expressions of interest - to award a service concession to a so-called intermediary, who will, among other things, acquire seagoing vessels for the German Flag, provide advice on changing to the German Flag and flagging in newbuildings, support existing shipping companies, and promote the German Flag.

As a private agency, the intermediary will provide service-oriented and market-driven support to existing and new clients of the German Flag and act as a reliable point of contact for all matters concerning the German Flag. It will significantly reduce the administrative burden on clients and ensure effective communication with the German flag state administration.

The intermediary’s primary clientele will consist of owners, charterers, ship managers, and similar entities based in Germany. In the future, however, the intermediary will also target customers with seagoing vessels registered in foreign shipping registers that are eligible to fly the German Flag.

The market exploration currently being conducted by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) is examining whether there is market interest in an intermediary for the German Flag. If there is sufficient market interest, the plan is to issue a service concession for seven years by means of a concession award procedure.

Further information is available online on the E-Vergabe website. A detailed product profile can be requested by emailing vergabestelle@bsh.de.

The market exploration process will continue until 25 September.