They’re not random, they’re called “flags of convenience” since the ship is subject to the laws of the country where it is registered, including labor laws and

They’re not random, they’re called “flags of convenience” since the ship is subject to the laws of the country where it is registered, including labor laws and safety standards. Panama and Liberia are common flags for merchant ships because they make it cheap to register, exempt the ship from some taxes, and hire foreign labor.