The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) issued an updated advisory to inform about the ship security measures in effect due to the geopolitical conflict in Syria.
Due to the geopolitical conflict in Syria, and uncertainty in Syria, including the recent overthrow of Syria’s President by rebel forces and missile strikes on Syrian ports, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator has issued an updated advisory informing that the ship security level for Syrian ports and territorial waters has been reduced from Security Level 3 to Security Level 2.
The RMI advised that:
- The ship security level for all Syrian ports and territorial waters is set to Security Level 2 (or equivalent security measures at port).
- The threat of collateral damage to merchant vessels has increased significantly.
- In the event of an incident or suspicious activity in the Eastern Mediterranean, RMI-flagged vessels should immediately notify the NATO Shipping Centre (NSC), the United States Coast Guard (USCG) National Response Center (NRC), and activate the Ship Security Alert System.
- Any incident report submitted to NSC or USCG NRC should also be copied to the 6th Fleet Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) detachment and to the Administrator.
- RMI-flagged vessels are encouraged to participate in NSC’s Mediterranean Voluntary Reporting Scheme, which involves contacting NSC when entering or departing the Mediterranean Sea and/or leaving a port in the Mediterranean.
To remind, in December 2024 the RMI had issued an advisory setting the ship security level measures on level 3.