Background: at the request of the iraqi government and in accordance with united nations security council…

Original warning text

1. BACKGROUND: AT THE REQUEST OF THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT AND IN ACCORDANCE
   WITH UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS (UNSCR) 1483 AND 1546,
   A MULTINATIONAL MARITIME SECURITY FORCE (MSF) CONTINUES TO OPERATE IN
   THE NORTHERN ARABIAN GULF (NAG). THIS FORCE IS AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT
   MARITIME SECURITY OPERATIONS TO PREVENT THE UNAUTHORIZED TRADE OF ARMS
   AND RELATED MATERIAL, TO PERFORM CUSTOMARY DEFENSE MISSIONS ON BEHALF
   OF THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT AND TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY MEASURES TO CONTRIBUTE
   TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SECURITY AND STABILITY IN IRAQ.
2. ACTION: ALL VESSELS EN ROUTE TO AND FROM IRAQI PORTS ARE SUBJECT TO
   QUERY, AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO BOARDING AND INSPECTION BY THE MSF UNTIL
   FURTHER NOTICE. THIS NOTICE AFFECTS VESSELS TRAVERSING OR PREPARING TO
   TRAVERSE IRAQI TERRITORIAL WATERS, THEKHAWR ABD ALLAH, SHATT AL ARAB AND
   IRAQ'S OFFSHORE AL BASRAH AND KHAWR AL'AMAYA OIL TERMINALS. INSPECTIONS
   ARE CONDUCTED TO VERIFY COMPLIANCE WITH RELEVANT UNSCRS AND TO CONTRIBUTE
   TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SECURITY AND STABILITY IN IRAQ. THE INTENT IS TO
   CONDUCT THOROUGH INSPECTIONS WITH MINIMUM DISRUPTION TO MARITIME COMMERCE.
   ALL CLEARED VESSELS WILL BE PERMITTED TO PROCEED TO THEIR NEXT PORT OF
   CALL UPON INSPECTION COMPLETION. ANY VESSEL CARRYING UNAUTHORIZED ARMS
   AND RELATED MATERIAL OR OTHER CARGO THAT COULD JEOPARDIZE THE MAINTENANCE
   OF SECURITY AND STABILITY IN IRAQ WILL BE DETAINED AND TURNED OVER TO THE
   IRAQI GOVERNMENT FOR APPROPRIATE ACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH IRAQI LAW.
   SPECIFICALLY, VIOLATIONS MAY RESULT IN THE SEIZURE AND CONFISCATION OF
   CARGO BY THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT.  ADDITIONALLY, THE MASTER AND CREW MEMBERS
   OF VESSELS CARRYING SUCH CARGO ARE SUBJECT TO ARREST, DETENTION, AND
   PROSECUTION UNDER IRAQI LAW.  STRICT ADHERENCE TO THE PROCEDURES IN THIS
   NOTICE WILL MINIMIZE DELAYS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH INSPECTIONS. IRAQI PORT
   STATUS, CATEGORIES OF VESSEL TRAFFIC THAT CAN BE ACCEPTED, AND OTHER
   RESTRICTIONS WILL BE PUBLISHED VIA SEPARATE NOTICE BY THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT.
   HYDROGRAPHIC CONDITIONS OF IRAQI PORTS AND CONNECTING WATERWAYS WILL ALSO
   BE PUBLISHED VIA SEPARATE NOTICE BY THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT. PARTIES WISHING
   TO DISPATCH SHIPS TO IRAQI PORTS ARE ADVISED TO REVIEW THESE NOTICES AND
   CONTACT THE IRAQI PORT AUTHORITY FOR CURRENT ENTRY PROTOCOL AND
   RESTRICTIONS.
3. CHECKPOINT: VESSELS BOUND FOR OR DEPARTING FROM IRAQI PORTS AND OFFSHORE
   OIL TERMINALS MUST PASS WITHIN A FIVE NAUTICAL MILE RADIUS OF LATITUDE
   TWENTY-NINE DEGREES THIRTY-FIVE MINUTES NORTH AND LONGITUDE FORTY-EIGHT
   DEGREES FIFTY-THREE MINUTES EAST (29-35N 048-53E).  APPROACHING VESSELS
   MUST CONTACT THE MARITIME SECURITY FORCE COMMANDER ON MARINE VHF
   (BRIDGE-TO-BRIDGE) RADIO TELEPHONE, CHANNEL 16 WITHIN FIVE NAUTICAL MILES
   OF THIS POINT AND BE PREPARED TO RESPOND TO MSF QUERIES.
4. NOTIFICATION: ALL SHIPPING MUST BE COORDINATED WITH THE IRAQI PORT
   AUTHORITY OR STATE OIL MARKETING ORGANIZATION (SOMO).
5. CARGO DOCUMENTATION: DOCUMENTATION FOR IRAQ BOUND CARGO MUST INCLUDE THE
   ITEMS LISTED BELOW.
   A. AN ORIGINAL MANIFEST DESCRIBING THE CARGO, AS WELL AS ITS LOCATION IN
      THE SHIP, MUST BE ONBOARD. THE ORIGINAL MANIFEST MUST INCLUDE THE PORT
      OF ORIGIN, PORTS OF CALL, COMPLETE BUSINESS NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF ALL
      SHIPPERS AND CONSIGNEES AND FINAL DESTINATION OF ALL CARGO. A COMPLETE
      BUSINESS ADDRESS MUST INCLUDE, THE STREET ADDRESS, A PROMINENT
      IDENTIFIABLE GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, OR A POST OFFICE BOX, CONTACT PERSON,
      NAME OR RECIPIENT MINISTRY OR ENTITY, AN E-MAIL ADDRESS PLUS A TELEPHONE
      NUMBER OR FAX NUMBER.
   B. CONSIGNEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES ON ALL CARGO MUST MATCH THE MANIFEST.
   C. THE MANIFEST MUST BEAR AN ORIGINAL SIGNATURE OF THE VESSEL'S MASTER OR
      CHIEF MATE. THE MANIFEST MAY BE ON SHIPPERS LETTERHEAD, FAX, PHOTOCOPY
      OR COMPUTER PRINTOUT, BUT IT MUST BEAR AN ORIGINAL SIGNATURE.
   D. THE ORIGINAL MANIFEST MAY CONSIST OF MORE THAN ONE DOCUMENT IF THERE ARE
      AMENDMENTS THAT LIST CARGO DROPPED OFF AT A GIVEN PORT OR CORRECT THE
      ORIGINAL MANIFEST. THESE AMENDMENTS MAY ORIGINATE FROM THE SHIPPER OR
      CARRIER. SINCE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS MAY BE TRANSMITTED TO A VESSEL BY
      TELEGRAM OR FAX, THEY NEED NOT BEAR AN ORIGINAL SIGNATURE. HOWEVER, THE
      MASTER IS REQUIRED TO CERTIFY IN WRITING THAT THE AMENDED MANIFEST
      ACCURATELY REFLECTS WHAT IS ON BOARD THE VESSEL.
6. INCOMPLETE DOCUMENTATION: IRAQ BOUND VESSELS WHICH ARE DETERMINED TO HAVE
   INCOMPLETE CARGO MANIFESTS, TO BE OTHERWISE IN VIOLATION OF REQUIREMENTS
   LISTED IN PARAGRAPH 5 OF THIS ADVISORY OR IRAQI LAWS, MAY BE DETAINED BY
   THE MSF FOR TURN OVER TO THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT OR DIVERTED TO LAST PORT OF
   CALL UNTIL APPROPRIATE CONDITIONS ARE MET.
7. PETROLEUM IMPORTS AND EXPORTS: TRADE IN PETROLEUM PRODUCTS IS CONTROLLED
   BY THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT. IRAQI LAW AUTHORIZES THE SEIZURE AND CONFISCATION
   OF VESSELS FOUND IN VIOLATION OF ANY PETROLEUM IMPORT OR EXPORT
   AUTHORIZATION. ALL PETROLEUM IMPORTS AND EXPORTS ARE HANDLED THROUGH SOMO
   OR ITS AGENT THE IRAQI SOUTH OIL COMPANY (SOC). ONLY THOSE OIL SHIPMENTS
   VERIFIED TO BE UNDER VALID SOMO CONTRACT, OR OTHERWISE SPECIFICALLY
   AUTHORIZED BY THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT WILL BE ALLOWED TO PASS. SOMO CAN BE
   CONTACTED BY FAX AT 00 8737 6370 5020.
8. VESSEL DOCUMENTATION: VESSELS MUST MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT INDICIA OF FLAG
   STATE REGISTRY, SUCH AS THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRY, ON BOARD AT
   ALL TIMES THE VESSEL IS IN OPERATION.  STATELESS VESSELS OR VESSELS WITHOUT
   VALID SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CERTIFICATES ARE NOT WELCOME IN
   IRAQ.
   A. QUESTIONABLE REGISTRY: VESSELS WITH QUESTIONABLE REGISTRY MAY BE DELAYED
      IN OBTAINING CLEARANCE TO PROCEED OR FACE DETENTION AND OTHER PENALTIES
      UPON ARRIVAL IN IRAQI PORTS.
   B. INVALID REGISTRY: VESSELS PRESENTING CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRY CONFIRMED
      TO BE INVALID WILL BE DENIED ENTRY INTO IRAQ, AND COULD BE SUBJECT TO
      ARREST BY THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT.
9. PERSONNEL IDENTIFICATION: ALL CREWMEMBERS ON IRAQ BOUND VESSELS MUST
   POSSESS VALID SEAMAN'S DOCUMENTS OR PASSPORTS. ALL PASSENGERS EN ROUTE IRAQ
   MUST POSSESS VALID PASSPORTS OR OTHER IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS ACCEPTABLE
   UNDER IRAQI LAW OR REGULATION.
10. FERRIES AND PASSENGER SHIPS: FERRIES OR PASSENGER SHIPS TRAVERSING THE
    IRAQI MARITIME SECURITY FORCE CHECKPOINT WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING
    REQUIREMENTS.
    A. VESSELS CARRYING PASSENGERS ONLY (WITH NO COMMERCIAL CARGO CAPACITY)
       MAY ARRANGE FOR AN EXPEDITIOUS TRANSIT THROUGH THE CHECKPOINT BY
       FORWARDING A CERTIFIED PASSENGER LIST AT LEAST 36 HOURS PRIOR TO
       TRANSIT BY FAX OR LETTER TO THE IRAQI PORT AUTHORITY. ADDITIONALLY, TEN
       DAYS PRIOR TO FIRST TRANSIT FORWARD A CERTIFIED ATTESTATION BY FAX OR
       LETTER FROM A RECOGNIZED MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
       CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES (IACS) THAT THE SHIP IN FACT HAS NO CARGO
       CARRYING CAPACITY.
    B. A PASSENGER VESSEL ARRIVING AT THE IRAQI MARITIME SECURITY FORCE
       CHECKPOINT THAT HAS NOT COMPLIED WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPH
       10.A. WILL BE HELD UNTIL AUTHORIZED BY THE IRAQI PORT AUTHORITY TO
       ENTER PORT. THE PASSENGER VESSEL MAY BE BOARDED AND INSPECTED WHILE
       AWAITING AUTHORIZATION.
11. QUERY/BOARDING PROCEDURES: MSF UNITS QUERYING PASSING VESSELS WILL
    IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS MARITIME SECURITY FORCE WARSHIP (OR AIRCRAFT)
    AND MAY GIVE AN IDENTIFYING NUMBER.  MERCHANT VESSELS WILL BE EXPECTED
    TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO QUERY.
    1. NAME.
    2. FLAG.
    3. INTERNATIONAL RADIO CALL SIGN OR DISTINCTIVE LETTERS ASSIGNED BY
       FLAG STATE.
    4. CARGO QUANTITY AND DESCRIPTION (WITH EXCEPTION OF MILITARY CARGO).
    5. AGENT.
    6. LAST PORT OF CALL AND DATE DEPARTED.
    7. NEXT PORT OF CALL AND ESTIMATED ARRIVAL.
    8. DATE OF ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE.
    FOLLOWING QUERY, VESSELS MAY BE CLEARED TO PROCEED OR DIRECTED TO
    STANDBY FOR BOARDING. SHIPS DIRECTED TO STANDBY FOR BOARDING WILL BE
    BOARDED AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE, WITH DUE REGARD FOR WEATHER
    CONDITIONS AND VESSEL CHARACTERISTICS. COALITION VESSELS CONDUCTING
    BOARDING'S WILL ENDEAVOR TO PROVIDE ADVANCE NOTICE OF BOARDING TEAM
    ARRIVAL WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
    A. BOARDING/SECURITY SWEEP: BOARDING TEAMS WILL ADVISE VESSELS OF
       REQUIREMENTS TO MUSTER CREW AND ACCOUNT FOR ANY WATCHSTANDERS PRIOR TO
       BOARDING. ALL DIRECTIONS FROM THE COALITION VESSEL SHOULD BE FOLLOWED
       EXPLICITLY TO AVOID MISUNDERSTANDING. IF ANY DIRECTION IS NOT UNDERSTOOD,
       THE VESSEL MASTER SHOULD ASK FOR CLARIFICATION. MERCHANT CREWS SHOULD
       NOT TAKE OFFENSE AT SECURITY SWEEPS, AND SHOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH THEM.
       REMAIN IN LOCATIONS DESIGNATED UNTIL CLEARED TO MOVE ABOUT THE SHIP BY
       THE BOARDING TEAM.
    B. SHIP INSPECTION. VESSEL MASTERS CAN FACILITATE THE INSPECTION PROCESS
       BY OPENING HATCH COVERS AND MAKING OTHER REASONABLE PREPARATIONS PRIOR
       TO THE ARRIVAL OF THE BOARDING TEAM. THE SHIP'S CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRY,
       CARGO DOCUMENTATION, AND CREW PASSPORTS OR SEAMAN'S BOOKS SHOULD BE
       AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION BY THE BOARDING OFFICER. BOARDING TEAMS MAY
       REQUIRE COPIES OF SOME DOCUMENTS.
12. CANCEL HYDROLANT 245/02 AND 246/02.