WASHINGTON — The backers of a new open registry have dusted off plans first aired three years ago, and presented the concept of a US Virgin Islands (USVI) flag to Donald Trump, amid the current government’s determination to bolster American maritime.
The flag idea has been submitted to the White House by the Center for Ocean Policy and Economics (COPE) in partnership with the Northeast Maritime Institute, a private maritime college based in Massachusetts, which has previously overseen the running of the Dominica registry.
“It’s time to let the cat out of the bag. America has an opportunity to engage in strategic competition for maritime trade and commerce. We can regularize trade and truly take advantage of an opportunity that has been ignored for too long,” commented Eric Dawicki, president of COPE, in a social media posting.
Since returning to power, Trump has looked at many ways of boosting American maritime, including setting up a shipbuilding office in the White House and taking aim at China’s dominant shipyard sector.
By SAM CHAMBERS/Splash
Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
Read more
