It was during the post-World War II period of tremendous international demands for ships to transport various goods and raw materials, emerged with startling impact that Liberia began what is today one of the largest ship registry programs in the world.

In the mid 1940's, former United States Secretary of State Edward R. Stettinius Jr. represented the interests of American businesses that were searching for ways to compete in the world marine trade, international business and industries. In response to this need, Liberia's late President, William Y.S. Tubman, rallied Liberian statesmen to accept the idea of a Liberian ship registry opened to ship owners around the globe.  The plan to attract shipowners to the Liberian ship registry culminated in the drafting of modern maritime legislation, aimed at facilitating the operation of ships, growth of fleets and world trade.

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