This important event coincided with other important developments on the international scene the accelerated phasing out of single hull tankers, Malta's entry as a full member of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding, where the Flag promoted itself from the Black to the White List in the space of one year, the registration of a considerable number of new buildings, which pushed the average age of the fleet significantly.

In its efforts to seek improvement of standards, the Malta Maritime Authority has increased the number of technical staff at the Registry together with the appointment of a huge number of flag state inspectors worldwide in order to conduct regular inspections on vessels operating under the Flag, a service which is given entirely at the cost of the Administration.