Israel

About the Flag

Established in 1948, Israel is located in the Middle East bordering the Mediterranean Sea between Egypt and Lebanon. A republic, Israel is a UN and IMO member with its capital at Jerusalem. The legal system is a mixture of English common law, British mandate regulations, and, in personal matters, the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal systems. The Chief of State is the President and the Head of Government is the Prime Minister; there is a unicameral parliament.

Hebrew is the official language, and English and Arabic are also spoken. Israel has a market economy with government intervention. Its agricultural and industrial sectors have developed rapidly over the last 20 years, and the nation is largely self-sufficient in food production except grain. The unit of currency is the Israeli shekel. Major trading partners include the EU, the United States, and Japan; exports include machinery and equipment, cut diamonds, and chemicals.

The Shipping and Ports Authority within the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety oversees vessel registration. The relevant legislation is the Vessels’ Ordinance (Mortgage & Transfer) 1948; the Shipping Law (Vessels) 1960; the Shipping Law (Regulations of Building & Measurements) 1961; and the Shipping Law (Regulations of Registration) 1962.