Marine Security Advisory: 03/2014 - U.S. Coast Guard Revises Security Advisory Regarding Ports Not Maintaining Effective Anti-Terrorism Measures

08 July 2014

Marine Security Advisory: 03/2014

(This Advisory supersedes Marine Security Advisory 05/2013)

Subject: U.S. Coast Guard Revises Security Advisory Regarding Ports Not Maintaining Effective Anti-Terrorism Measures

Reference: (a) USCG Port Security Advisory (2-14) - ATTACHED

Dear Shipowner/Operator/Master;

Update: The U.S. Coast Guard has issued the attached Port Security Advisory (2-14). In Port Security advisory 214 the US Coast Guard has determined that the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not maintaining effective antiterrorism measures in some of its ports.

All vessels that visited the countries/facilities listed in paragraph B of the USCG Advisory (with exceptions noted) during their last five port calls will be boarded or examined at sea by the Coast Guard to ensure required actions were taken. Failure to properly implement the actions listed in paragraph C.1 through C.5 of the attached advisory may result in delay or denial of entry into the United States.

Vessel security actions:

Effective immediately ALL Liberian registered vessels while in ports of the countries noted in the attached USCG Port Security Advisory (2-14) shall:

1. Implement measures as per the ship’s security plan equivalent to Security Level 2 and
2. Take the required actions listed in section C of the attached advisory including attempting to execute a Declaration of Security (DOS).

Note: We have received reports that some ports have objected to a DOS indicating that a vessel is at Security Level 2 while the port has declared itself at Security Level 1. Therefore, the following guidelines, which have been confirmed with the USCG, should be followed:

1. A vessel is not required to raise its security level to level 2 when visiting the ports listed in ref (a), unless the port is at security level 2 or you receive notification from the Administration to increase to security level 2.
2. The USCG is aware of the possible negative effects and potential problems that may arise when attempting to execute a DOS, indicating the ship has implemented measures equivalent to Security Level 2, while the port is at Security Level 1. Therefore when executing a DOS; the USCG will accept an entry indicating Security Level 1; as long as the extra measures equivalent to Security Level 2 have been noted and recorded in the ship’s log.

Reminder: No vessel shall operate at a Security Level lower than that of a port facility. Additionally, the Master has the overriding authority to increase the Security Measures of the vessel at any time to protect the safety and security of the vessel.

For more information please contact the Security Department at telephone + 1 703 790 3434, email security@liscr.com; LISCR Duty Officer + 1 703 963 6216, email dutyofficer@liscr.com

* * * * *

Date: June 12, 2014

Contact: Mr. Michael Brown

(202) 372-1081

Port Security Advisory (2-14)

1. Background:

The Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) has mandated that the United States Coast Guard evaluate the effectiveness of anti-terrorism measures in foreign ports and provides for the imposition of conditions of entry on vessels arriving to the United States from countries that do not maintain effective anti-terrorism measures (MTSA, 46 USC § 70108).

The Coast Guard has determined that the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures in some of its ports. The ports in the Federal Republic of Nigeria that have been found to have effective anti-terrorism measures and therefore are exempted from taking additional security measures are listed in paragraph B below. Actions required as listed in paragraphs C and D of this Port Security Advisory take effect for vessels that arrive in the United States upon on or after June 26, 2014, after visiting certain ports in the Federal Republic of Nigeria as one of their last five ports of call.

1. Countries Affected:

The Coast Guard has determined that ports in the following countries are not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures:

Cambodia

Cameroon

Comoros

-More-

Cote d’ Ivoire

Cuba

Equatorial Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Iran

Liberia

Madagascar

Nigeria

-More-

Nigeria (cont’d)

Sao Tome and Principe

Syria

Timor-Leste

Venezuela

Yemen

1. Actions Required by Vessels Visiting Countries Affected:

All vessels arriving to the United States that visited the countries listed in paragraph B (with exceptions noted) during their last five port calls must take actions 1 through 5 listed below while in the countries listed in paragraph B as a condition of entry into U.S. ports:

• 1. Implement measures per the ship’s security plan equivalent to Security Level 2;

• 1. Ensure that each access point to the ship is guarded and that the guards have total visibility of the exterior (both landside and waterside) of the vessel. Guards may be:

• • • provided by the ship’s crew, however, additional crewmembers should be placed on the ship if necessary to ensure that limits on maximum hours of work are not exceeded and/or minimum hours of rest are met, or

-More-

• • • provided by outside security forces approved by the ship’s master and Company Security Officer.

• 1. Attempt to execute a Declaration of Security;

• 1. Log all security actions in the ship’s security records; and

• 1. Report actions taken to the cognizant U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port prior to arrival in the U.S.

Vessels that visited the countries listed in paragraph B (with exceptions noted) on or after the effective date in paragraph A, during their last five port calls will be boarded or examined by the Coast Guard to ensure the vessel took the required actions. Failure to properly implement the actions listed in paragraph C.1 through C.5 may result in delay or denial of entry into the United States.

1. Actions Required by Vessels in U.S. Ports:

Based on the findings of the Coast Guard boarding or examination, the vessels that visited the countries listed in paragraph B (with exceptions noted) on or after the effective date in paragraph A may be required to ensure that each access point to the ship is guarded by armed security guards and that they have total visibility of the exterior (both landside and waterside) of the vessel while in U.S. ports. The number and location of the guards must be acceptable to the cognizant U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port. For those vessels that have demonstrated good security compliance and can document that they took the measures called for in C.1. through C.4. above, the armed security guard requirement will normally be waived.

PSA 1-12 IDENTIFYING RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING VESSELS CALLING AT

LIBYAN PORTS REMAINS IN EFFECT

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