Carriage of Weapons, Ammunition and Armed Guards on vessels within Egyptian waters

Updates by West of England P&I Club

The West of England P&I Club has recently been advised by Egyptian Marine Insurance Consultations and Services (EMICS), Alexandria of a further change in the regulatory requirements governing the carriage of weapons, ammunition and armed guards on vessels within Egyptian waters.

A free translation of the new requirements is reproduced below for guidance:

1. The Egyptian Government forbids the presence of any weapons / armed guards on board commercial vessels as per the rules and regulations of the International Maritime Organisation.
2. In the case of the presence of weapons on board commercial vessels calling at Egyptian ports, Masters shall lock the weapons in a safe compartment and issue a certificate regarding these weapons and deliver it to the pilot in the waiting area. The certificate shall include a confirmation from the Master that weapons will be delivered to Port Police Forces once berthed to be locked ashore after being inspected by the Port Police Forces and will be returned to the vessel before departing the port.
3. If the above regulations are not adopted, the vessel will not be permitted to enter the port.
4. In the case of vessels transiting the Suez Canal, the Port Police Forces will receive the weapons from the transiting vessels at their point of entrance and thesewill be returned to the vessels at their point of departure.
5. In the case of the presence of weapons on board vessels in territorial waters, in ports, in waiting areas or during transit of the Suez Canal, the Master and crew will be in violation of the Egyptian Laws. The vessel will be arrested together with the Master and crew and the persons holding the weapons without permits, and the law number 394 of the year 1954 and its amendments will be applied. This violation will be attended by the General Prosecutor and a Police Verbal Process will be issued accordingly.

Source: The West of England P&I Club