# 2025-09236: Federal Watchdog Investigates Ships Sailing Under Flags of Convenience

2025-09236, Investigation Into Flags of Convenience and Unfavorable Conditions Created by Certain Flagging Practices, is a Federal Register notice from Federal Maritime Commission published 2025-05-22, effective Submit comments on or before August 20, 2025. (as of 2026-10-22).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-09236
- As of: 2026-10-22
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-09236
- Title: Investigation Into Flags of Convenience and Unfavorable Conditions Created by Certain Flagging Practices
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Federal Maritime Commission
- Citation: 90 FR 21926
- Published: 2025-05-22
- Effective: Submit comments on or before August 20, 2025.
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-10-22

## In one line

Federal Watchdog Investigates Ships Sailing Under Flags of Convenience

## Summary

The Federal Maritime Commission is checking if some foreign ships using 'flags of convenience' are causing unfair problems for U.S. shipping. They want to hear from the public by August 20, 2025, to help figure out if new rules or actions are needed. This could affect foreign ship operators and might lead to changes that protect U.S. trade and shipping fairness.

## Abstract

The Federal Maritime Commission (Commission) is initiating a nonadjudicatory investigation into whether the vessel flagging laws, regulations, or practices of foreign countries, including so-called flags of convenience, or competitive methods employed by the owners, operators, agents, or masters of foreign-flagged vessels, are creating unfavorable shipping conditions in the foreign trade of the United States. The Commission invites the public to submit comments for its consideration.

## Effects PRIA read

No economic effects identified for this document.

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## Sources
- [2025-09236 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/05/22/2025-09236/investigation-into-flags-of-convenience-and-unfavorable-conditions-created-by-certain-flagging)
- [2025-09236 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-05-22/pdf/2025-09236.pdf)

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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-09236 (as of 2026-10-22).