MARAD Advisory – Niger Delta area

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. It should be posted on the MARAD Internet site in the near future. Related information concerning security measures for ships in high risk areas may be found in Port Security Advisory 2-06. (HK Law)