The Republic of Moldova has increased the national tonnage volume of the registered ships. Therefore, it has chances of obtaining the Category C of the Council of the International Maritime Organization and of taking a more active part in making decisions regarding the maritime transport, the navigation and ecological security, Igor Zaharia, head of the Naval Transport Division of the Ministry of Transport and Road Management told Info-Prim Neo. According to the cited source, 141 ships are registered under the national colours in Moldova’s State Ships Register. They navigate through the Danube, the Black Sea Basin and the Mediterranean Sea Basin and along the internal navigation ways of Moldova. One advantage is that the Maritime Administration of Moldova can work independently on the basis of the financial resources that come from the registration of ships, Igor Zaharia said. Zaharia also said that another benefit is the possibility of training sailors in accordance with the international certificates. Asked to comment on the criticism about the administration of the ships sailing under Moldova’s flags by Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev, leveled against the Ministry of Transport and Road Management at a meeting of the Ministry’s Board in October, Igor Zaharia said that this is a new area for Moldova and the Government must make sure that the national and international legislation is implemented correctly. The ships are registered under Moldova’s colours according to article 30 of the Code of Commercial Maritime Navigation and to the Government’s decisions regarding the creation of the public institution “Giurgiulesti Harbour Master’s Office”.