ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Flag state

Flag state is like having a special home for your ship. Just like you have a house where you can do whatever you want, a flag state is like a country that your ship belongs to. This country takes care of your ship and makes sure it follows the rules and regulations of the sea.

Think of it like this, you are a captain of a ship traveling in the sea, and just like you have to follow rules and laws of the land, you and your ship have to follow rules and laws of the sea. These rules might include things like how fast you can go or how much fuel you can carry. To make sure these rules are followed, every ship is assigned a flag state.

Your flag state is like a host country that your ship belongs to. Every country has different rules and regulations for their ships, and when your ship hoists the flag of a particular country, it becomes a citizen of that country in the eyes of the sea.

Just like you respect and follow the rules of your country, a ship must respect and follow the rules of its flag state. The country of the flag state also has responsibilities towards the ship like inspecting it regularly to make sure everything is okay.

So, in summary, flag state is like the country that your ship belongs to on the sea. It takes care of your ship and makes sure it follows the rules and regulations of the sea, just like how your home country takes care of you and makes sure you follow the rules and regulations of the land.
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