Part 1 of 2. refer to 246/02 for part 2. 1. summary: the naval interception effort in support of the united…

Original warning text

PART 1 OF 2. REFER TO 246/02 FOR PART 2.
 1. SUMMARY: THE NAVAL INTERCEPTION EFFORT IN SUPPORT OF THE UNITED
    NATIONS SANCTIONS PERTAINING TO IRAQ CONTINUES IN THE ARABIAN
    GULF AND OTHER AREAS WHERE VESSELS ARE INBOUND TO OR OUTBOUND
    FROM IRAQ. CARGO BOUND FOR AQABA OR TRANSSHIPMENT FROM AQABA WILL
    NORMALLY BE INSPECTED ASHORE BY A TEAM CONSISTING OF LLOYD'S
    REGISTER AND THE AQABA PORT AUTHORITY. VESSELS TRAVERSING THE
    NORTHERN ARABIAN GULF, THE SHATT AL-ARAB WATERWAY OR KHAWR
    ABD-ALLAH WATERWAY SHOULD EXPECT TO BE QUERIED AND IF BOUND FOR
    OR DEPARTING IRAQI PORTS, BOARDED BY MULTINATIONAL NAVAL UNITS
    ENFORCING UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS. DOCUMENTATION EQUIREMENTS FOR
    THE OFFICIALS IN AQABA AND THE NAVAL UNITS IN THE ARABIAN GULF
    ARE IDENTICAL. IRAQ-BOUND CARGOES OTHER THAN APPROVED FOOD,
    MEDICAL SUPPLIES OR HUMANITARIAN ITEMS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO
    PASS. VESSELS NOT IN POSSESSION OF APPROPRIATE AUTHORIZATION
    LETTERS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS MAY BE SUBJECT TO DELAY UNTIL
    PROPER DOCUMENTATION IS OBTAINED. ALL GOODS SENT INTO IRAQ UNDER
    THE OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM REQUIRE A UNITED NATIONS AUTHORIZATION
    LETTER. ALL GOODS SENT LEGALLY INTO IRAQ OUTSIDE THE OIL-FOR-FOOD
    PROGRAM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FOOD AND MEDICINE, REQUIRE A
    UNITED NATIONS AUTHORIZATION LETTER. FOOD AND MEDICINE ARE NOT
    SUBJECT TO UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS AND ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE
    A UNITED NATIONS AUTHORIZATION LETTER UNLESS THEY ARE BEING SENT
    IN UNDER THE OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM.
 2. UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 986 AND SUBSEQUENT
    RESOLUTIONS, THE OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM: THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
    OIL-FOR-FOOD DOES NOT AFFECT THE MISSION OF THE MULTINATIONAL
    FORCES OPERATING UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF UNSCR 661 (1990), UNSCR
    665 (1990), AND OTHER RELEVANT RESOLUTIONS. THE OPERATING
    PROCEDURES SET FORTH IN THIS NOTICE ACCOUNT FOR THE REQUIREMENTS
    OF UNSCR 986 AND SUBSEQUENT RESOLUTIONS. SHIPS TRAVERSING THE
    ENFORCEMENT AREA IN THE ARABIAN GULF SHOULD EXPECT DELAYS
    STEMMING FROM MARITIME INTERCEPTION OPERATIONS. STRICT ADHERENCE
    TO THE PROCEDURES IN THIS NOTICE WILL MINIMIZE ANY DELAYS
    ASSOCIATED WITH SEABORNE INSPECTIONS.
 3. THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS ARE IN EFFECT FOR ALL IRAQ-BOUND
    SHIPPING TRAVERSING THE MARITIME INTERCEPTION OPERATIONS AREA
    IN THE ARABIAN GULF:
    A. NOTIFICATION: A MINIMUM OF 72 HOURS ADVANCE NOTIFICATION IS
       REQUIRED PRIOR TO ARRIVAL AT THE ENFORCEMENT AREA. CONTACT
       THE MARITIME INTERCEPTION FORCES (MIF) COORDINATOR, U.S. NAVAL
       FORCES, CENTRAL COMMAND (BAHRAIN) BY FAX: 973 724 344 OR
       973 724 334 OR LETTER (SEE PARAGRAPH 8). THE FOLLOWING
       INFORMATION MUST BE INCLUDED:
        (1) VESSEL NAME.
        (2) VESSEL FLAG.
        (3) INTERNATIONAL RADIO CALL SIGN.
        (4) ITINERARY, INCLUDING PORT OF CARGO ORIGIN.
        (5) DESCRIPTION OF CARGO.
        (6) VOLUME OF CARGO.
        (7) NUMBER OF HOLDS.
        (8) DIMENSIONS OF HOLDS.
        (9) IDENTIFICATION OF THE VESSEL'S SHIPPING AGENT.
        (10) IDENTIFICATION OF THE VESSEL'S OWNERS.
        (11) IF REQUIRED (REFER TO PARAGRAPH 1), UNITED NATIONS
             SECURITY COUNCIL LETTER SHOWING SERIAL NUMBER, ISSUE
             DATE AND EXPIRATION DATE.
        (12) ESTIMATED ARRIVAL DATE AND TIME AT THE CHECKPOINT
             (SEE PARAGRAPH 3.C).
    B. CARGO CONFIGURATION: ALL CARGO MUST BE ACCESSIBLE FOR
       INSPECTION AT SEA. CARGO CARRIERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOADING
       CARGOES TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY. THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC
       GUIDANCE APPLIES:
        (1) CONTAINERIZED CARGO: CARGO CONTAINERS MUST NOT BE
            STACKED MORE THAN THREE HIGH FROM THE DECK. AS A
            SAFETY PRECAUTION TO PROTECT INSPECTION TEAMS,
            CONTAINERS STACKED MORE THAN THREE HIGH WILL BE
            CONSIDERED INACCESSIBLE. THIS PROVISION APPLIES TO
            BOTH INTERNAL AND DECK-LOADED CONTAINERS.
        (2) BREAK BULK: PACKAGED OR BAGGED CARGO MUST BE LOADED
            IN A MANNER WHICH PERMITS THOROUGH INSPECTION.
            PALLETIZED ROWS OF CARGO REQUIRE ADEQUATE SEPARATION
            TO ALLOW FOR SAFE ACCESS.
        (3) LOOSE BULK: LOOSE BULK CARGO MUST BE ACCESSIBLE FOR
            PHYSICAL AND VISUAL INSPECTION, VERIFICATION OF
            MEASUREMENT SOUNDINGS AND SAMPLING. HATCH COVERS MUST
            BE OPENED TO ALLOW FOR THOROUGH INSPECTION.
        (4) IF A VESSEL'S CARGO IS DEEMED INACCESSIBLE FOR
            INSPECTION, THE VESSEL MAY BE DIRECTED TO RETURN
            TO A PORT WHERE ACCEPTABLE CARGO LOADING CAN BE ARRANGED.
    C. CHECKPOINT: VESSELS BOUND FOR OR DEPARTING FROM IRAQI PORTS
       OR THE MINA AL-BAKR OIL TERMINAL MUST PASS WITHIN A FIVE
       NAUTICAL MILE RADIUS OF LATITUDE TWENTYNINE DEGREES
       TWELVE MINUTES NORTH AND LONGITUDE FORTYNINE DEGREES
       TWENTY MINUTES EAST (29-12N 049-20E). APPROACHING VESSELS
       SHOULD CONTACT THE MIF COMMANDER ON BRIDGE-TO-BRIDGE RADIO,
       CHANNEL 16, WHEN WITHIN FIVE NAUTICAL MILES OF THIS POINT.
       VESSELS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO PROCEED FROM THIS POINT
       UNTIL CLEARED BY THE MIF COMMANDER. VESSELS CONTAINING
       CARGOES FOR DESTINATIONS OTHER THAN IRAQ WILL NOT BE
       ALLOWED PASSAGE INTO IRAQ.
    D. VESSEL TONNAGE LIMIT: VESSELS UNDER 30,000 DWT WILL NOT BE
       AUTHORIZED TO PROCEED TO MINA AL-BAKR FOR THE PURPOSE OF
       LOADING PETROLEUM CARGOES.