The Liberian Registry has advised operators transiting the North Eastern Arabian Sea to implement heightened security measures in response to recent military activity in the region.
Due to the recent military offensive in the North Eastern Arabian Sea, all Liberian-flagged vessels transiting the North Eastern Arabian Sea and ports in India and Pakistan should implement measures equivalent to Security Level 2 in their Ship Security Plan (SSP). All SSPs have to make provision for the three, internationally adopted, Security Levels:
- Security Level 1, normal; the level at which ships and port facilities will normally operate.
- Security Level 2, heightened; the level applying for as long as there is a heightened risk of a security incident.
- Security Level 3, exceptional; the level applying for the period of time when there is a probable or imminent risk of a security incident.
Given the ongoing volatile security situation in this region, it is strongly advised that shipowners, operators, and masters trading in these waters assess the risks associated with port calls, taking into account the nationality of owners and seafarers, as well as the cargo on board.
Continuous and careful monitoring of the evolving situation is strongly recommended. Shipowners, operators, and masters should obtain the most current information from relevant government organizations of the countries where seafarers are ordinarily resident, local port agents, port authorities, and P&I correspondents.
