Marine Security Advisory: 01/2025 - U.S. Coast Guard Revises Security Advisory Regarding Ports Not Maintaining Effective Anti-Terrorism Measures (Superseded by 02/2026)

27 March 2025

Marine Security Advisory: 01/2025

(This Advisory supersedes Marine Security Advisory 02/2023)

Subject: U.S. Coast Guard Revises Security Advisory Regarding Ports Not

Maintaining Effective Anti-Terrorism Measures

Reference: (a) USCG Port Security Advisory (1-25)

Dear Shipowner/Operator/Master of Liberian flagged vessels,

Update:

In the attached Port Security Advisory 1-25, the US Coast Guard is communicating that the Republic of Cuba is not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures in its ports, however this does not apply to U.S Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. Effective immediately, actions required in paragraphs C and D of this Port Security Advisory are required for vessels that arrive in the United States after visiting ports in the Republic of Cuba.

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 (1-25) 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.1 through C.5 of the attached advisory including attempting to execute a Declaration of Security (DOS).

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: March 19, 2025

Contact: HQS-DG-IPSProgramHQs@uscg.mil

Port Security Advisory (1-25)

A. Background:

The Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) requires the U.S. Coast Guard evaluate the effectiveness of anti-terrorism measures in commercial foreign ports. If these ports are deemed inadequate, the MTSA authorizes the Coast Guard to impose conditions on vessels arriving from such locations to ensure the safety of U.S. waters (MTSA, 46 U.S.C. §§ 70108 - 70110).

46 U.S.C. § 70108, as amended by the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, states that the Department of Homeland Security shall deem any port under the jurisdiction of a foreign government that is a state sponsor of terrorism as not having effective anti-terrorism measures, and apply the sanctions described in 46 U.S.C. § 70110(a) to such a port.

In accordance with 46 U.S.C. § 70108, as amended, and the Department of State’s designation of the Republic of Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, the Coast Guard has determined that Cuba is not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures in its ports. This determination does not apply to U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

Actions required as listed in paragraphs C and D of this Port Security Advisory take effect for all commercial vessels that arrive in the United States on or after April 2, 2025, after visiting ports in Cuba (excluding U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay) as one of their last five ports of call. B. Countries Affected:

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

Cambodia

Cameroon

Comoros

Cuba

Djibouti

Equatorial Guinea

Federated States of Micronesia

The Gambia

Guinea-Bissau

Iran

Iraq

Libya

Madagascar

Nauru

Nigeria

Sao Tome and Principe

Seychelles

Sudan

Syria

Timor-Leste

Venezuela

Yemen

1. Actions Required by Vessels Visiting Countries Affected:

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 one (1) through five (5) listed below while in the countries listed in paragraph B as a condition of entry into U.S. ports:

• 1. Vessels with approved security plans must implement measures equivalent to Security Level 2. Those without security plans should take appropriate precautions to safeguard themselves while in port, including designated port anchorages.
  2. Ensure each access point to the vessel 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 vessel’s crew, however, additional crewmembers should be placed on the vessel if necessary to ensure that limits on maximum hours of work are not exceeded and/or minimum hours of rest are met, or
     • Provided by outside security forces approved by the vessel’s master and Company Security Officer.
  3. Attempt to execute a Declaration of Security;
  4. Log all security actions in the vessel’s security records; and
  5. 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 vessel 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.

1. This Port Security Advisory supersedes PSA 1-24.

###