Denmark's ship register has reached its highest-ever total of vessels as owners such as Torm moved tonnage.
Shipowners' organisation Danish Shipping said the Dannebrog flag has 779 units on its roll, up 2.6% last year over 2020.
The moves it up one place on the list of biggest flag states to number 11.
A net total of 15 ships joined in 2021, boosting the fleet from 22.34m gt to 23.24m gt, up 4%.
Danish owner Torm has switched 16 of its ships to Dannebrog in the past 12 months.
But a number of departures explains the net gain of 15 vessels, Danish Shipping told TradeWinds.
Figures provided show Norden taking two ships out of the register, but Maersk Tankers adding three.
Northern Offshore Services moved five to Dannebrog.
Other owners contributing tonnage included Cadeler, Esvagt and Navigare Capital Partners.
Maersk reflagged six ships away from Denmark, however, with Maersk Supply Service moving another.
Fred Olsen Windcarrier took away five vessels and Axel Eitzen's Christiania Shipping switched two tankers from the flag.
Careful consideration
"We consider pros and cons every time we register a ship," said Torm chief executive Jacob Meldgaard, who is also chairman of Danish Shipping.
"And our conclusion is that the Danish flag, Dannebrog, can compete with other flags and therefore it's attractive to us."
Meldgaard explained that Torm looks at the financial and operational conditions when choosing a register.
"It also matters that we strengthen Denmark’s position as a shipping nation in an international context when future framework conditions are to be negotiated," he said.
Danish Shipping argues that adherence to the flag can be an important factor when new regulations are under discussion at the International Maritime Organization, for example. "A strong flag state undeniably has a stronger voice in negotiations," it said.
Danish Shipping chief executive Anne Steffensen added: "I never get tired of repeating the news that the Danish flag has progressed, and that's also the case this year.
"The Danish flag signals quality and decent conditions, and since 2000 both the number of ships and tonnage flying the Danish flag have increased year by year."
Steffensen said the country had targeted 10% growth in ship numbers and gross tonnage from 2018 to the end of 2021.
This has been exceeded, with vessels increasing by 14% and tonnage by 43%.
