An increasing consideration, especially since the loss of the tanker Erika in December 1999, is what is the quality of ship used and who will bear the kiability for selecting that ship? To put it another way, to what extend should flagstate registration guarantee the sutability and seaworthiness of a vessel? Similarly, what does classification society endorsement signify and should the shipping industry need to rely on surveys by, for example, individual oil companies and the p&i clubs? Should, indeed, the industry have to rely on port state insections carried out at the receiving ports, in other words, after the voyage (and major risk)?