Gard P&I Club’s local correspondents in Israel and Lebanon report that all ports, including Haifa and Beirut, are operating normally, but the Club advises operators to stay updated as changes are likely to come up.
According to Gard, the Lebanese correspondent advises vessels to avoid calling at the country’s southernmost ports, such as Sidon, Tyre and Jiyeh as well as Zahrani Oil terminals. While there are currently no reports of maritime facilities and commercial vessels being deliberately targeted during the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, the risk of collateral damage has increased.
Advice is likely to evolve quickly
The security situation in Israel, Lebanon, and surrounding sea areas remains volatile and we strongly recommend ship operators and their masters trading to the eastern Mediterranean Sea region to carefully assess the risks involved in all port calls on a case-by-case basis and:
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make frequent checks with local sources of information, e.g. vessel’s agents, local authorities, and/or Gard’s correspondent, to obtain the most up-to-date and reliable security information available at any given time,
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follow advice received from flag administrations and port authorities regarding applicable ISPS security levels, and
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review relevant security and contingency plans and apply them accordingly.
Gard advises that prior to getting underway, operators and managers should develop plans for responding to GPS disruptions that affect safe navigation, and ensure that seafarers on vessels heading towards Israel are aware of any imminent security threats in the region. Decisions on crew shore leave should always be taken with the prevailing local security situation in mind.
As both Israel and Lebanon are included in the Joint War Committee’s (JWC) Listed Areas for Hull War, Piracy, Terrorism and Related Perils, Gard also recommends conferring with the vessel’s war insurer well in advance of arrival at any Israeli port.
