Liberia Maritime Authority has issued marine advisory which provides information regarding the implementation of the United Nations (UN) sanctions imposed against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) by UN Security Council Resolutions: 1718, 1874, 2087, 2094, and 2270. This Advisory also includes guidance on the procedure that Liberian flagged vessels should follow in order to comply with the requirements of the Resolutions.
Paragraph 12 of Resolution 1874 (2009) requires the boarding and inspection to be done with the consent of the flag State. Therefore:
1. The inspecting State must first notify and request the consent of the flag State and provide the circumstances, nature and scope of the information that provides reasonable grounds for inspection.
2. A Liberian flagged vessel that has been contacted by any Member State of the UN to inspect that vessel must immediately notify this Flag Administration by email
3. The Administration will expeditiously review the information and promptly respond to the request, and advise the vessel Owner/Operators of its determination.
4. If the determination is to allow inspection by the inspecting Member State, the ship Owner/Operator may request the presence of a Flag State Inspector during the inspection. If appropriate, the Flag Administration may also assign a Flag State Inspector to conduct a special inspection. If the Flag State consents to the inspection and responds to the request of the inspecting Member State, the Owner/Operator of Liberian flagged vessel involved will be required to cooperate with the inspection.
5. In accordance with paragraph 12 of Resolution 1874 (2009), if this Flag Administration does not consent to the vessel inspection by the UN Member State requesting the inspection, then the Flag State will direct the vessel to proceed to an appropriate and convenient port for the required inspection by the local authorities.
Owners and Operators should bring the contents of this Advisory to the attention of the Masters of their Liberian flagged vessels and instruct them to exercise caution so as to avoid violation of the sanctions.
Further details may be found in the marine advisory below
Source: Liberian Registry
