In light of the conditions that exist in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, there are no further changes to the operation of Libyan ports. Yet, Gard advises vessels to be in touch with their local agent to obtain the most up-to-date and reliable information.
For the time being the port situation, at April 8, 2019, is as:
- Working
Farwah, Bouri, Melittah, Zawia, Tripoli, Al Khoms, Misurata, Es Sider, Ras Lanuf, Marsa El Brega, Zuetina, Benghazi, Tobruk and Marsa El Hariga.
- Closed
Sirte and Derna.
According to Gard’s correspondent, the ports that are operating are the ones that are safe for vessels and their crew. Yet, the situation is easy-to-change and ship operators are advised to warn their ships’ crews of the volatility of the situation and to carry out an assessment of the risks involved prior to entering or transiting Libyan waters.
The Club is concerned about the oil smuggling activities off the Western Libya coast and the potential consequences for tankers trading to this region.
In the meantime, the members are recommended to inform their vessels to continue to exercise caution when entering Libyan ports and waters.
NAVAERA III warning 225/2016 remains in force and recommends that all ships in or near the militarised area south of 34°00’N should also report their position to the nearest Coastal Station in order to receive a safe track-line.
Summarising, vessels operating in Libyan waters must:
- adhere to the international laws of trading, follow the official sea navigation routes to any of the working Libyan ports and avoid navigating in the coastal waters of the closed ports;
- declare the intended voyage and type of cargo to be discharged/loaded to the local agent well in advance of arrival at any Libyan port to allow the agent sufficient time to notify the appropriate authorities;
- otherwise stay in close contact with local port authorities, ship’s agent or Gard’s local correspondent to obtain the most up to date and reliable information available at any given time.
In the meantime, the US International Port Security Program, based on the Port Security Advisory (1-19) of April 2 2019, the US Coast Guard has determined that ports in Libya are not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures.
Ships are also advised to proceed with extreme caution when approaching all Libyan oil terminals, particularly in eastern Libya, due to potential violent and criminal activity based upon recent attempts by armed, non-state actors to engage in illicit export of oil.
The advisory also reminds the shipping industry that UN Security Council Resolution 2146 authorizes the UN Sanctions Committee to impose certain measures on vessels attempting to illicitly export crude oil from Libya and that this resolution imposes several restrictions regarding loading, transporting, or discharging crude oil from Libya which may include the possible denial of port entry.
Moreover, under the US Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA), the USCG is required to assess the effectiveness of anti-terrorism measures implemented in foreign ports from which US documented vessels and foreign vessels depart on a voyage to the US and other foreign ports believed to pose a security risk to international maritime commerce.
As ports with ineffective anti-terrorism measures are identified, this information is published in the Federal Register and the USCG will impose conditions of entry on vessels arriving in the US that visited such ports as one of their last five ports of call.
Under the conditions of entry, affected vessels must:
- implement measures as per the ship’s security plan equivalent to security level 2 while in port in Libya;
- ensure that each access point to the ship is guarded and that the guards have total visibility of the exterior (both landside and waterside) of the vessel while it is in port in Libya;
- attempt to execute a declaration of security while in port in Libya;
- log all security actions in the ship’s security records;
- report the actions taken to the relevant Coast Guard captain of the port prior to arrival in US waters.
Any affected vessel that does not meet the stipulated conditions may be denied entry into the United States.
