Each vessel has to sail under the national flag of its port of registry. In the past, the port of registry was often the head office of the shipping company. This changed in the course of globalisation.

Seagoing ships and inland waterway vessels are registered in a national register of shipping and have to conform to that country’s regulations. Almost all the ships in the German merchant marine are registered in Germany. However, some of them have applied for special permission from the German authorities to sail under a foreign flag temporarily, as well. German ship owners make use of the possibility of flagging out in order to be able to offer competitive services on the world market.

The quality of the countries of registration is verified regularly. German ship owners only use flags on the so-called “white list,” which meet the highest safety standards.

A Jacob’s ladder is made up of wooden rungs and ropes. It is a roll-up ladder that hangs freely down the side of the vessel and is used for example by a pilot to board the ship.

A seafarers’ mission is a Christian social service for sailors.

In order to avoid collisions in busy sea-lanes, separate ship traffic lanes are stipulated in a traffic separation scheme (TSS), which works like the lanes of a highway.

The trade fair for shipbuilding and offshore technology will take place from 7 to 10 September 2010 in Hamburg.