Application of the Genuine Link Doctrine on Granting Nationality to Ships by the Flag State

Abstract

Nationality is a legal component of the ship's operation in international shipping which is granted by the Flag State and the ship is granted the nationality by flying the flag of the Flag State. There is a fundamental resemblance between granting nationality to ships and granting nationality to the natural persons by a State. On the matter of granting nationality to a natural person, there should be a genuine link between the granting States and the receiving person. In case of a lack of a genuine link between the State and person, other States may refuse to recognize the nationality given by a State on the basis of the judgment of the International Court of Justice. A great majority of the ships operating in international shipping lack a genuine link with their Flag States amounting to a lack of jurisdiction and effective control on the ship by the Flag State and violation of the international regulations by such ships. This paper examines the possibility of applying the genuine link doctrine on the shipping industry and the possibility of the other States refusing to recognize the nationality granted to the ship by the Flag States in the case of lack of a genuine link between them.