The Farley Mowat used to registered as a Canadian ship flying the Canadian
Flag. It was arrested in Brazil for not having proper documentation, essential
equipment or qualified personnel on board. The ship should have been inspected
by Transport Canada at least twice during its operating period under the
Canadian Flag.
The essential equipment that was not operating properly was the oily water
separator that prevents a ship from pumping oil from the bilges etc into the
ocean and thus preventing pollution that damages marine birds and mammals.

Rather than have the ship inspected by Transport Canada Paul Watson chose to
evade the law by changing the flag it flies.