What is a characteristic of Open Registries?

Open registries, often referred to as "flag of convenience" registries, are designed to attract foreign shipowners by offering a more flexible regulatory environment. One of the defining characteristics of open registries is the allowance of minimal taxes and the use of non-national labor. This enables shipowners to reduce operational costs, as they can hire crew from various countries who may be willing to work for lower wages than local labor.

In contrast to this, other aspects such as requiring vessels to be built in the state, mandating that only citizens hold licenses, or stipulating that crew must be citizens of the state would represent more restrictive practices often found in national or closed registries, where local laws and economic protections are stronger. Thus, the key attribute that distinguishes open registries is the leniency in labor and tax regulations, making them attractive to global shipping companies.