a flag of convenience: a term applied to ships registered in certain small countries, notably Liberia and Panama, by owners who are not nationals of the countries, thus flying flags which do not represent their true origin. Originally the practice started in order to evade inspections and regulations but later came into use by the US particularly out of necessity to increase commerce and naval power without the high wages and conditions of US sailors (which cost five times as much as crews from other countries). —SHSBC Binder 2 Approved Glossary