The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator has lowered the required Ship Security Level for RMI-registered vessels within Yemeni territorial waters and ports to Security Level 2.
On 21 October 2022, a drone attack was reported on an RMI-registered vessel while loading cargo at Ash Shihr Terminal, Yemen, prompting the Administrator to require RM registered vessels to operate at Security Level 3. As incidents have reduced, the required Ship Security Level for RMI-registered vessels is lowered back to Security Level 2, however guidance for vessels entering Yemeni ports and territorial waters remains in effect.
In particular, due to the recent and ongoing warnings/threats made by Houthi forces under the guise of the “YCG,” RMI-flagged vessels are encouraged to seriously assess the risk associated with entering Yemeni ports and territorial waters until further notice.
Recommendations
- Vessel owners and operators must ensure that they are not dealing in property or interest in property of any blocked entity or individual.
- Vessels engaged in the export of Yemeni oil and gas are considered to be particularly at risk of attack or harassment by Houthi forces.
- The Maritime Security Transit Corridor (MSTC) should be used by all merchant vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al Mandeb.
- Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy and Enhance Maritime Security in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, and the Maritime Global Security website should be consulted prior to operating in the above listed geographic areas.
- Review the IMSC brochure and IMSC Bridge Reference Cards.
- Operators are advised to review OCIMF’s Ship Security: Hull Vulnerability Study and NATO ATP2: NCAGS’ Guide to Owners, Operators, Masters and Officers Edition A Version 1, Annex D to Chapter 4
Ports Under Houthi Control
In 2016, at the request of the Government of Yemen, the UN established the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM) to ensure compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2216 (2015).
The UNVIM applies only to commercial imports and bilateral assistance to Yemeni ports outside the authority of the UN-backed Government of Yemen, including but not limited to Hodeida and Saleef.
Per the UNVIM, completed UNVIM clearance requests should be submitted no later than five days prior to the vessel’s arrival at the outer limits of these ports and preferably before the departure of the vessel from its port of loading, depending on the availability of the vessel’s documents.
Any UNVIM clearance request received after this period will incur delays in the clearance process.
Ports Under UN-backed Government of Yemen Control
All other clearance requests for Yemeni ports (Aden, Mukallah, etc.) under control of the UN-backed Government of Yemen are managed directly through the Yemen Ministry of Transport (YMoT).
The YMoT clearance form should be completed and sent by email to the Operations Unit of the Supreme Relief Committee at: [email protected] no less than one week before the vessel’s entry/arrival.
