Greece will remain eligible for the U.S. Coast Guard’s QUALSHIP 21 program through June 30, 2027, after Greek-flagged vessels maintained a three-year detention rate well below the program’s limit.
The Coast Guard’s latest Port State Control annual report placed Greece’s detention ratio for 2023 through 2025 at 0.44%. Greek-flagged ships underwent 141 U.S. Port State Control examinations in 2025, with no safety-related detentions. Twelve of those examinations identified one or more deficiencies.
To qualify, a flag administration must maintain a rolling three-year detention ratio below 1% and record at least 10 U.S. Port State Control examinations of its vessels in each of the previous three years. Greece is one of 22 administrations approved from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The Greek Ministry of Maritime and Insular Policy announced the renewal after receiving formal notice from the Coast Guard.
QUALSHIP 21, short for Quality Shipping for the 21st Century, was introduced in 2001 to recognize foreign-flagged vessels with strong records of compliance with U.S. and international safety requirements. Participating ships may receive certificates, public recognition and reduced inspection frequency or scope, depending on the vessel type and its operating record.
Greece’s eligibility does not automatically qualify every Greek-flagged vessel. Owners and operators must apply separately, and each ship must meet the Coast Guard’s individual vessel requirements, including no Coast Guard detention during the previous 36 months and a successful U.S. inspection within the previous two years. A vessel may also be excluded because of the detention record of its operating company.
The designation applies to a vessel’s flag rather than the nationality of its owner. Greek-owned ships registered elsewhere are assessed under the record of their own flag administration, while qualifying Greek-flagged vessels can apply for the inspection and certification benefits available through the program.