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 
    INTENANCE 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 TOMSF 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.