"UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA
...
Nationality of ships
1. Every State shall fix the conditions for the grant of its nationality to ships, for the registration of ships in its territory, and for the right to ny its flag. Ships have the nationality of the State whose flag they are entitled to fly. There must exist a genuine link between the State and the ship.
2. Every State shall issue to ships to which it has granted the right to ny its flag documents to that effect."
( http://www.hri.org/docs/LOS/part7-1a.html )


"REGULATIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING THE REGISTRATION OF SHIPS
...
Article 7
Ships of Chinese nationality shall be manned by Chinese citizens."
( www.faolex.fao.org/docs/texts/chn11931.doc )


"International Registry of Sunken Ships, Canada
...
Ship Name: Almiranta
Nationality: Spanish"
( http://www.shipwreckregistry.com/sample4.txt )


"Saigon Port::Regulations
...
"Paper asking for permission for ship's port call" shall contain the following details:
- The ship's name, type, nationality, call signal and registration place;
...
Papers to be produced:
- Ship registration certificate or certificate of the ship's nationality;"
( http://www.csg.com.vn/html/re_decree_no_24_2001.htm )

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Note added at 1 hr (2008-03-13 14:47:52 GMT)
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"Oxford Journals
...
...show that she met another slave ship of Spanish nationality named "Leon" and that that crew......"
(http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/search?session_query_ref=r... )

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Note added at 9 hrs (2008-03-13 23:19:51 GMT)
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Gačić M, En-hr. rječnik prava:
nationality of ships - pripadnost broda