Marine Advisory: 05/2011 - Japan - Navigation in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011

25 March 2011 Marine Advisory: 05/2011

This Advisory supersedes Advisory 04/2011

Subj: Japan - Navigation in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011 Dear Shipowner/Operator:

The Administration removes the precaution to remain 100 nautical miles from the East coast of the island of Honshu North of Onahama and South of Ominato as the debris in the area is being monitored and the Japanese government is providing ongoing updates.

Masters of Liberian flag vessels are encouraged to follow the information and guidance provided by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, including any potential impact due to floating debris and the situation regarding the nuclear power plant in Fukushima. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan has confirmed that, at present, all international sea ports not damaged by the 11 March earthquake, and the resulting tsunami, operate normally and, based on the results of measurements of radiation levels by local governments, no health risk has been detected around the ports. The MLIT has advised that all vessels remain 30 kilometers away from the Fukushima nuclear power plant at Lat 37-25.5N and Long 141-02.0E. For more information regarding navigational warning visit NAVAREA XI: (Coordinator: Japan): http://www1.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/jhd-E.html

As a precaution, the U. S. Coast Guard issued precautionary transit notification NAVAREA XII 97/11, that recommends vessels avoid transits within 50 miles (43 nautical miles) of the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The notice recommends, “Prudent planning should incorporate prevailing and changing wind and weather conditions, in addition to other precautionary measures.” It further provides that in the event a vessel bound for a US port transits within the 50 miles (43 nm) of the precautionary area, the vessel’s master submit transit information, including date and total time within the precautionary area, to the cognizant U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port using the 96 advance hour notice of arrival. For more information visit NAVAREA XII United States http://msi.nga.mil/NGAPortal/MSI.portal

NAVAREA warnings are disseminated by the designated NAVAREA coordinators and can also be downloaded by following the relevant links from http://weather.gmdss.org/navareas.html

Other sites to be checked for additional information:

1. FAO, IAEA and WHO - Additional information on the food safety dimension of events in Japan is contained in a set of questions and answered developed jointly by FAO, IAEA and WHO at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2011/japan_20110323/en/index.html
2. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued Circular letter 3175 recommending shipowners and shipmasters comply with the latest navigational warnings issued by the NAVAREA XI Coordinator (Japan), in the wake of damage to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan.

Point of Contact

For further information regarding this Advisory, please contact Timothy M. Keegan via telephone at +1 (703) 251-2409 or Sean Brett via telephone at +1 (703) 251-2434 or via e-mail at safety@liscr.com.