The Company underwrote the expedition's expenses. There was some concern as to which flag the ships of the expedition, the NEVA and NADEZHDA would carry: Russia's commercial flag, as the sponsors were the Minister of Commerce and the RAC, or Russia's naval ensign of St. Andrew, as the ships were commanded and crewed by naval personnel. The Tsar himself granted permission for the use of the naval ensign,[6] as this mission was to carry an Imperial Ambassador to a foreign court as well as open new markets in China to the Company.