Port Security Advisory News

2019-007-Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Indian Ocean-Violence Due to Regional Conflict and PiracyDescription:This revised advisory cancels U.S. Maritime Advisory 2018-0151. References: (a) U.S. Maritime Alerts 2018-001A, 2018-002A, 2018-002B, 2018-005A, and 2018-007A2. Issues: Regional conflict and piracy threats continue to pose potential risks to commercial vessels operating in the above listed geographic areas.3. Conflict in Yemen continues to pose potential risk to U.S.

The U.S. Coast Guard, in light of civil unrest in Libya, issued a Port Security Advisory for Libya March 11, suggesting security measures for ships to take when calling upon Libyan ports. Civil unrest in Libya has prompted U.S. government concerns regarding whether port facility requirements of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code are still being executed and maintained. The U.S. Directly report the actions taken to the cognizant U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port prior to arrival at a U.S. port. "The current security situation in Libya's ports is unknown at this time,” said Coast Guard Rear Adm. Kevin Cook, director of Prevention Policy. Implementing the above recommended security measures will generally expedite vessel entry into the U.

The U.S. Coast Guard issued an updated advisory concerning the placement of firearms on U.S. vessels to defend against or deter pirate attacks in high-risk waters. The advisory summarizes issues related to compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Gun Control Act, and the National Firearms Act, among others. Meeting the various conditions and obtaining the necessary permits is not easy, but it is no longer impossible. Port Security Advisory 4-09 (Rev 2) (11/4/09). (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News Service)

The US Coast Guard issued Port Security Advisory 5-08.  In a welcome change, the use of armed security guards on vessels that are subject to conditions of entry into US ports will no longer be automatic.  Rather, such requirement may be imposed by the Coast Guard after considering the security compliance history of the vessel.  In other words, keep good records of security actions taken during port calls in nations found to not maintain effective anti-terrorism measures.  The Advisory also added three port facilities in Indonesia that have been excepted from the conditions of entry. (HK Law)

The US Maritime Administration (MARAD) issued an advisory warning that extreme caution and vigilance should be exercised by ships operating in the Niger Delta area of Nigerian waters due to numerous acts of aggression against vessels and reports of excessive fines being levied by Nigerian Drug Enforcement Officers. US-flag vessels should refer to MARSEC Directive 104-6, Guidelines for US Vessels Operating in High Risk Waters. This directive is Sensitive Security Information (SSI), but may be obtained from your local USCG Captain of the Port (COTP), as indicated in a Federal Register notice. The MARAD Advisory may be obtained from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Internet site, but only after detailed searching.

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Port Security Advisory listing nations it has determined to have inadequate port security measures. Ships that have called in any of those nations within the five previous port calls may be subject to increased port state control examination upon arrival in a U.S. port. The enhanced examination may be lessen if the ship establishes a higher security level during the port call, executes a Declaration of Security, logs all security actions in the ship’s log, and reports the actions taken to the USCG Captain of the Port (COTP) prior to arrival in the U.S. port. The nations found to have inadequate port security measures are: Albania…

The Coast Guard has updated security targeting information for foreign flag vessels, which includes a vessel’s flag state administration and last five port of calls. The revised information is provided on the following web site: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/pscweb/index.htm. The information for flag states and recognized security organizations will be updated monthly until the end of the year. Targeting statistics will be compiled annually and published in an annual report starting in 2005. Flag administrations whose names appear on the targeted flag state list have demonstrated a below average compliance rate in the United States for security since July 1. Foreign vessels flying these flags can expect increased scrutiny and boardings based on this information.

The Coast Guard has updated security targeting information for foreign flag vessels, which includes a vessel’s flag state administration and last five port of calls. The revised information is provided on the following web site: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/pscweb/index.htm. The information for flag states and recognized security organizations will be updated monthly until the end of the year. Targeting statistics will be compiled annually and published in an annual report starting in 2005. Flag administrations whose names appear on the targeted flag state list have demonstrated a below average compliance rate in the United States for security since July 1. Foreign vessels flying these flags can expect increased scrutiny and boardings based on this information.

The U.S. Coast Guard issued an updated Port Security Advisory. The advisory lists nations that have failed to communicate to the IMO or the USCG all required information regarding port facility security compliance. The nations listed in this Advisory are: Albania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritania, and Nauru. In a change from the previous advisory, Equatorial Guinea has been removed from the list. Ships calling at a port facility in any of the listed nations should institute additional security measures during the visit and should document those measures in appropriate ship’s records.

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Port Security Advisory stating that Albania and Madagascar have submitted to the IMO information indicating that they are maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures in the maritime sector. The nations that have not, as yet submitted such information are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Nauru. Any vessel that visited ports in these five countries (with the exception of the Port of Monrovia in Liberia) during their last five port calls will be subjected to increased port state control upon arrival in the United States unless the vessel instituted appropriate enhanced security measures during such port call.