Martitme Administration Advisory 2010-08

The United States Maritime Administration has issued MARAD Advisory 2010-08 for vessels transiting the Straights of Hormuz.

The Advisory reads as follows:

Advisory #:	2010-08
Date Issued:	Aug 13 2010
To:	MARINERS
Subject:	VESSELS TRANSITING IN THE STRAITS OF HORMUZ

1. THIS MARAD ADVISORY PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO VESSELS TRANSITING SUBJECT WATERS.

2. THIS ADVISORY WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE MARAD WEB SITE AT WWW.MARAD.DOT.GOV.

3. U.S.-FLAG OPERATORS WITH SHIPS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD THIS ADVISORY TO THEIR SHIPS BY THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS MEANS.

4. ON 27 JULY 2010, 2330Z, THE MARSHALL ISLANDS FLAGGED TANKER M. STAR REPORTED AN EXPLOSIVE INCIDENT ON HER STARBOARD QUARTER WHILE TRANSITING EAST IN THE STRAITS OF HORMUZ AT POSITION 26 DEGREES 27 MINUTES NORTH, 056 DEGREES 16 MINUTES EAST. THE INCIDENT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

5. RECOMMEND ALL SHIPS TRANSITING THE SUBJECT WATERS EXERCISE INCREASED VIGILANCE AND CAUTION, PARTICULARY DURING NIGHT TRANSITS WITH INCREASED MONITORING OF SMALL VESSEL/BOAT ACTIVITY.

6. U.S. FLAG VESSELS THAT OBSERVE SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IN THE AREA ARE ADVISED TO REPORT HOSTILE OR POTENTIALLY HOSTILE ACTION TO COMUSNAVCENT BATTLEWATCH CAPTAIN AT PHONE NUMBER 011-973-1785-3879. ALL SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS ARE TO BE REPORTED TO THE US COAST GUARD NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH 33 CFR PART 101.305. A SHIP HOSTILE ACTION REPORT (SHAR) SHOULD BE SENT TO THE NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL-INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (NGA) AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT/SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY, INCLUDING APPARENT SURVEILLANCE BEING CONDUCTED BY SMALL VESSELS/BOATS. E-MAIL: NAVSAFETY@NGA.MIL OR REF: NGA PUB 117 FOR FURTHER GUIDANCE.

7. VESSELS TRANSITING SUBJECT WATERS MUST COMPLY WITH U.S. COAST GUARD MARSEC DIRECTIVE 104-6 (REV. 3) AND ACCORDINGLY, SHOULD CONDUCT A PRE-VOYAGE RISK ASSESSMENT AND INCORPORATE APPROPRIATE PROTECTIVE MEASURES INTO THEIR VESSEL SECURITY PLAN.

8. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT CAPTAIN ROBERT FORD, MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF SECURITY, CODE: MAR-420, ROOM W25-207, 1200 NEW JERSEY AVE, S.E., WASHINGTON, DC 20590, TELEPHONE 202-366-0223, FACSIMILE 202-366-3954, TLX II 710.822.9426 (MARAD DOT WSH), OR EMAIL: MARADSECURITY@DOT.GOV

9. FOR FUTHER INFORMATION ON THE US COAST GUARD MARSEC DIRECTIVE CONTACT LCDR JAMES FOGLE AT TELEPHONE 202-372-1038, OR EMAIL JAMES.T.FOGLE@USCG.MIL

Link to the Advisory is here.

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