This page has been designated as a way to provide important information pertaining to maritime security. Below are links to various websites and documents that provide worldwide terrorist and piracy threat updates and information helpful in understanding, implementing and maintaining compliance with maritime security regulations.

Maritime Security Alerts

• Within the past three months there have been 12 piracy attacks on ships at the Brazilian port of Santos. All 12 incidents involved container ships at anchor. It is believed that the container ships were targeted because of their high value cargos. Ships calling at the port of Santos are encouraged to remain vigilant and take extra security measures to prevent unauthorized boardings.
• Since January 2006, forty-seven incidents of piracy have been reported at the anchorages off Chittagong, Bangladesh. Pirates have boarded ships preparing to anchor and ships at anchor via grapnel hook and rope or the anchor chain. All ships should implement heightened security measures when operating in this area.
• Six piracy incidents have been reported since 5 June 2006 at Dar es Saalam, Tanzania. Pirates are targeting ships in port and at the anchorages. Perpetrators are typically armed with knives or machetes and board vessels via anchor chain or grapnel hook and rope. Based on recent incidents, boardings occur between the pilot boarding area and a line drawn through the north and south anchorages near the channel. All vessels should take heightened anti-piracy precautions when operating in this area. Report from IMB Piracy Reporting Centre and the Office of Naval Intelligence.

Click here to go to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy Report Center. The center provides weekly piracy reports.

Click here to go to the U.S. Navy, Office of Naval Intelligence Worldwide Threats to Shipping report. The report provides weekly updates on worldwide terrorist and piracy threats and activities.

Click here to go to the Maritime Liaison Office (MARLO), Bahrain for advisories, newsletters and other information focused on the safety and security of shipping in the middle east.

Click here to go to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Maritime Transportation Security Act and International Ship and Port Facility web page. The site contains information on U.S. regulations and policies pertaining to U.S. and foreign flagged vessels operating in or calling at U.S. ports.

Click here for U.S. Coast Guard port security advisories for vessels calling at U.S. ports.

Click here to go to the IMO database containing Ship and Port Security Contact Information.

Click here to go to selected Marine Notices, Marine Safety Advisories and other security documents.

Click here to go to Required/Recommended MARSEC Levels.

• All ports in India: see MSA #36-06
• Indonesia (with the exception of PT Terminal Petikemas Surabaya, Banjarmasin Port, PT Pertamina Unit Pemasaran III Jakarta, Pertamina Unit Pengolahan V Balikpapan, Senipah Terminal Total E&P Indonesia Balikpapan, Caltex Oil Terminal Dumai, Pelindo II Conventional Terminal Jakarta, Jakarta International Container Terminal, PT Pupuk Kaltim Bontang, PT Badak Bontang, PT Indominco Mandiri Bontang, Pertamina Unit Pengolahan II Dumai, PT Pelabuhan Indonesia I Cabang Dumai, Semarang International Container Terminal, Belawan Multi- Purpose Terminal and PT Multimas Nabati Asahan): see MSA #12-08

Persian Gulf

• Basrah Deepwater Anchorage and Umm Qasr: see MSA #32-05
• Ports in Syria: see MSA #12-08
• Ports in Iran: see MSA #12-08

Africa and Red Sea

• All ports in Morocco
• All ports in Nigeria: see MSA #40-05; MSA #28-07
• Equatorial Guinea (with the exception of the ports of Ceiba, K-5, Luba, Punta Europa and Zafiro): see MSA #12-08
• Guinea-Bissau: see MSA #12-08
• Liberia: see MSA #12-08
• Mauritania (with the exception of the Chinguetti Terminal): see MSA #12-08

South and Central America and the Caribbean waters

• Cuba: see MSA #12-08

Cuba, Cameroon (with above excepted ports), Equatorial Guinea (with above excepted ports), Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia (with above excepted ports), Iran, Liberia, Mauritania (with above excepted port) and Syria have been determined to be ISPS non-compliant. Also see U.S. Coast Guard Port Security Advisory 4-08 for U.S. requirements for these countries.

* RECOMMENDED SETTING OF MARSEC LEVEL II OR APPROPRIATE HEIGHTENED SECURITY MEASURES *

The areas below are known to have continued high incidents of piracy, stowaways and/or criminal activity.

S.E. Asia and the Indian Sub Continent

• Bangladesh: Chittagong at berth and anchorage
• Malacca Straits
• Singapore Straits

Africa and Red Sea

• Gulf of Aden/Southern Red Sea
• Egytian Ports
• Somalian Waters - Eastern and northeastern coast are high-risk areas for hijackers. Ships not calling at ports in the areas should keep at least 200 nm away from the coast (Report from the International Piracy Center).
• East Africa: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
• West Africa: Gulf of Guinea, Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Douala, Cameroon; Tema, Ghana; and Port of Luanda, Angola.

South and Central America and the Caribbean waters

• Dominican Republic: Rio Haina and San Pedro De Macoris
• Haiti: Port Au Prince
• Jamaica: Kingston
• Brazil: Santos
• Peru: Callao and Talara
• Ecuadorian Ports

Marine Notices:

• Marine Notice 2-011-16, International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
• Marine Notice 2-011-17, Automatic Identification Systems (AIS).
• Marine Notice 2-011-18, Ship Security Alert System (SSAS).
• Marine Notice 2-011-19, Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR).

International Code for the Security of Ships and of Port Facilities:

• ISPS Code Part A (Mandatory Requirements)
• ISPS Code Part B (Guidance)

MSC/Circ.1217, Interim Guidance on Voluntary Self-Assessment by Companies and Company Security Officers (CSOs) for Ship Security (14 December 2006)

MSC/Circ.1111, Guidance Relating to the Implementation of SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code (7 June 2004)

Marine Safety Advisories:

• MSA #6-08, RECOGNIZED SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS (RSOs) ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS MARITIME ADMINISTRATION
• MSA #21-07, RECOGNIZED TRAINING COURSES FOR SHIP AND COMPANY SECURITY OFFICERS (SSOs/CSOs)
• MSA #46-04, CLARIFICATION ON CSRs
• MSA #70-04, SSAS ALERT CSO BACK-UP SERVICES
• MSA #6-05, IRAQ MARITIME SECURITY CHECKPOINT PROCEDURES
• MSA #19-05, INCREASE OF STOWAWAY ACTIVITY IN EAST/WEST AFRICAN PORTS
• MSA #32-05, MARSEC LEVEL II SET IN BASRAH DEEPWATER ANCHORAGE AND UMM QASR
• MSA #40-05, MANDATORY MARSEC LEVEL II IN NIGERIA
• MSA #42-05, COALITION MARITIME HOTLINE
• MSA #11-06, UNAUTHORIZED BOARDING OF VESSEL AT SAN PEDRO DE MACORIS, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
• MSA #25-06, INDIAN PORTS SECURITY LEVEL RAISED
• MSA #26-06, ISRAELI MILITARY ACTION IN LEBANON
• MSA #34-07, PIRACY ATTACKS ARE ON THE RISE