The US has imposed h eightened security measures on vessels arriving into the US from Iraq due to security concerns.
It will impose conditions of entry on vessels that arrive in the country after visiting certain ports in Iraq as one of their last five ports of call.
The US Coast Guard has determined that only three Iraqi port facilities are currently maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures.
These are the Al-Basrah Oil Terminal, the Khor Al Amaya Oil Terminal and Al Maqal Terminal 14, according to a circular issued by P&I club Gard.
US authorities require affected vessels to implement measures in accordance with the vessel’s security plan equivalent to Security Level 2 while in a port in Iraq.
They must also ensure that each access point to the vessel is guarded and that the guards have total visibility of the exterior of the vessel while the vessel is in port.
Shipowners are also obliged to attempt to execute a declaration of security while in a port in Iraq and log all security actions in the vessel’s security records.
Finally, they must also report actions taken to the relevant US Coast Guard captain of the port prior to arrival into US waters.
Based on the findings of the US Coast Guard boarding or examination, Gard said vessels may be required to ensure that each access point to the vessel is guarded by armed, private security guards while in US ports.
Gard said it “strongly advised” members with vessels calling at ports in Iraq which may call at ports in the US in the near future, to review the conditions and ensure compliance while the vessel is in Iraq.
