Owners of ships on the Bermuda register will not be “targeted” for inspection by the US Coast Guard’s Port State Control Authorities in the future.It comes as a result of acceptance of the Island’s Department of Maritime Administration (DMA) into the US Coast Guard programme.Minister of Economic Development Grant Gibbons announced the department has been accepted into the QUALSHIP 21 programme for its commitment to safety and the quality of its fleet.“Acceptance into the QUALSHIP 21 programme is great news for Bermuda and a testament to the dedication and hard work of the staff in the DMA,” said Dr Gibbons said.“There are stringent standards that ships of a particular flag state have to meet on a consistent basis to qualify for this award. It is the task of our own surveyors to visit and inspect the ships and ensure that the quality of the Bermuda fleet is maintained at a high standard.“Achieving QUALSHIP 21 accreditation is also a valuable marketing point for the promotion of the Bermuda shipping register.”