The US Coast Guard has issued a Port Security Advisory (2-05) dated 20 May
2005 in respect of compliance by 5 countries with the Ship and Port Facility
Security Code (ISPS).
In a previous advisory (1-05) the US Coast Guard determined that seven countries
were not maintaining effective anti terrorism measures. Two of those seven countries,
Albania and Madagascar, are now considered to have complied with the ISPS reporting
requirements. The remainder considered not to be compliant are:
- Democratic Republic of Congo;
- Guinea-Bissau;
- Liberia;
- Mauritania; and,
- Nauru.
Vessels that have visited ports in these five countries (with the exception
of Monrovia in Liberia) during their last five port calls prior to entering
the United States on or after 23 May 2005 will be subject to increased controls
by the US Coast Guard and will be required to:
- Implement measures under the ship’s security plan equivalent to ISPS
security level 2 while in ports in the five countries.
- While the ship is in such ports, ensure that each access point to the ship
is guarded and that guards have total visibility of the exterior of the vessel
(both land side and water side.) Guards may be provided by the ship’s
crew but additional crewmembers should also be placed on the ship if it is
deemed necessary to ensure that limits on maximum hours of work are not exceeded
and minimum hours of rest are met. As an alternative to outside security forces,
resources approved by the ship’s Master and company security officer
may be employed.
- Attempt to execute a Declaration of Security while in the five countries
listed above.
- Log all security actions in the ship’s log.
- Report actions taken to the relevant US Coast Guard Captain of the Port
prior to the vessel’s arrival.
Those vessels which have visited a port in one of the five countries during
their last five port calls on or after 23 May 2005 will in addition be boarded
at sea by the US Coast Guard to ensure that the vessel has taken the required
action. Failure to properly implement any of the above mentioned conditions
will result in the vessel being denied entry into the United States.
Vessels subject to these conditions of entry while in US ports will also be
required to ensure that each access point to the ship is guarded by armed private
security guards who are able to keep in sight the whole of the vessel’s
exterior, both landside and waterside. The number and location of guards employed
must be acceptable to the Coast Guard Captain of the Port.
Monrovia in Liberia has now been deemed by the US Coast Guard to comply with
the ISPS code. But vessels that have visited Monrovia as one of their last five
port calls before entering the United States or on after 23 May 2005 must still
take the steps listed in points (a) through to (e) above. Such vessels will
not normally be boarded at sea by the US Coast Guard or will they be required
to provide armed private security guards while in United States ports.
If Member’s require further information on the above measures they should
contact the Managers.