Coalition efforts continue to expedite humanitarian assistance to umm qasr, iraq

Original warning text

1. COALITION EFFORTS CONTINUE TO EXPEDITE
   HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO UMM QASR, IRAQ.
   ALL INBOUND SHIPS WILL BE SUBJECT TO QUERY,
   BOARDING, AND INSPECTION BY COALITION FORCES.
   THIS NOTICE AFFECTS VESSELS TRAVERSING THE
   NORTHERN ARABIAN GULF, KWAHR ABD ALLAH WATERWAY
   AND THE IRAQI PORTION OF SHAFT AL ARAB WATERWAY.
   IRAQ BOUND CARGOES OF FOOD, WATER, MEDICAL
   SUPPLIES OR OTHER HUMANITARIAN ITEMS WILL HAVE
   THE HIGHEST PRIORITY TO PASS THE COALITION
   CHECKPOINT DETAILED IN PARAGRAPH 2.C. IN THE
   FUTURE, COMMERCIAL CARGOES WILL BE PERMITTED
   TO PASS AS BERTH SPACE BECOMES AVAILABLE. CARGO
   DETERMINED TO BE CONTRABAND IS SUBJECT TO SEIZURE.
   VESSELS AND CREW CARRYING CONTRABAND MAY BE SEIZED
   AND DETAINED. STRICT ADHERENCE TO THE PROCEDURES
   IN THIS NOTICE WILL MINIMIZE DELAYS ASSOCIATED
   WITH SEA BORNE INSPECTIONS. STATUS OF THE PORT OF
   UMM QASR, CATEGORIES OF VESSEL TRAFFIC THAT CAN BE
   ACCEPTED, AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS, WILL BE PUBLISHED
   BY SEPARATE NOTICE. HYDROGRAPHIC CONDITIONS OF THE
   PORT AND CONNECTING WATERWAYS WILL ALSO BE PUBLISHED
   BY SEPARATE NOTICE. PARTIES WISHING TO DISPATCH
   SHIPS TO UMM QASR ARE ADVISED TO REVIEW THESE
   NOTICES AND CONTACT PORT AUTHORITIES FOR CURRENT
   ENTRY PROTOCOLS AND RESTRICTIONS. PARTIES
   TRANSPORTING HUMANITARIAN AID SHIPMENTS ARE FURTHER
   ADVISED TO CONTACT THE HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS
   CENTER IN KUWAIT.
2. THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS ARE IN EFFECT FOR ALL
   IRAQ BOUND SHIPPING:
   A. NOTIFICATION: A MINIMUM OF 72 HOURS ADVANCE
      NOTIFICATION IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO ARRIVAL AT
      THE CHECKPOINT (SEE PARAGRAPH 2.C). CONTACT
      THE MARITIME INTERCEPTION FORCES (MIFF)
      COORDINATOR, U.S. NAVAL FORCES, CENTRAL
      COMMAND (BAHRAIN) BY FAX: 973 829 117 OR
      LETTER (SEE PARAGRAPH 6). 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 CARGO HOLDS.
      8. DIMENSIONS OF CARGO HOLDS.
      9. IDENTIFICATION OF THE VESSEL'S SHIPPING AGENT.
      10. IDENTIFICATION OF THE VESSEL'S OWNERS.
      11. ESTIMATED ARRIVAL DATE AND TIME AT THE
          CHECKPOINT (SEE PARAGRAPH 2.C).
      12. VESSEL'S DRAFT (WITH CURRENT CARGO ON BOARD).
      13. ANY SPECIAL VESSEL REQUIREMENTS NEEDED TO
          TRANSIT IRAQI WATERWAYS AND/OR FOR
          BERTHING UPON ARRIVAL.
   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 AND OFFSHORE OIL TERMINALS
      MUST PASS WITHIN FIVE NAUTICAL MILES OF
      29-32N 049-14E. APPROACHING VESSELS MUST CONTACT
      THE MIFF 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 MIFF COMMANDER.
   D. DOCUMENTATION: VESSEL DOCUMENTATION MUST CONFORM
      TO THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
      1. AN ORIGINAL MANIFEST DESCRIBING THE CARGO,
         AS WELL AS ITS LOCATION IN THE SHIP, MUST
         BE ON BOARD. THE ORIGINAL MANIFEST MUST
         INCLUDE THE PORT OF ORIGIN, PORTS OF CALL,
         COMPLETE BUSINESS NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF
         ALL SHIPPERS AND CONSIGNEES AND A FINAL
         DESTINATION OF ALL CARGO A COMPLETE BUSINESS
         ADDRESS MUST INCLUDE EITHER THE STREET
         ADDRESS, A PROMINENT IDENTIFIABLE GEOGRAPHIC
         LOCATION OR A POST OFFICE BOX PLUS A TELEPHONE
         NUMBER OR FAX NUMBER.
      2. CONSIGNEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES ON ALL CARGO
         MUST MATCH THE MANIFEST.
      3. THE MANIFEST MUST BE SIGNED IN THE ORIGINAL
         BY THE VESSEL'S MASTER OR CHIEF MATE. THE
         MANIFEST MAY BE ON SHIPPER'S LETTERHEAD,
         FAX, PHOTOCOPY OR COMPUTER PRINTOUT, BUT IT
         MUST BEAR AN ORIGINAL SIGNATURE, CONTAIN ALL
         THE INFORMATION LISTED ABOVE AND OTHERWISE
         COMPLY WITH NORMAL MARITIME TRANSPORT
         PRACTICE.
      4. 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 SUCH
         MEANS AS 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. THE
         UNDERLYING ARE FOR ACCURATE DOCUMENTATION
         OF CARGO AND DESTINATION AND FOR A HIGH
         DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE THAT THE DOCUMENTS
         ARE AUTHENTIC.
3. VESSEL PRE-CLEARANCE:
   A. ONCE PETROLEUM EXPORTS RESUME, TANKERS BOUND
      FOR OFFSHORE OIL TERMINALS WILL NORMALLY BE
      ALLOWED TO PROCEED UNINTERRUPTED THROUGH THE
      CHECKPOINT DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH 2.C.
   B. VESSELS TRANSPORTING BULK HUMANITARIAN
      CARGOES ARE INVITED TO CONTACT THE MIFF
      COORDINATOR PRIOR TO SAILING TO EXPLORE
      PRE-CLEARANCE OPTIONS. PRE-CLEARANCE USES
      VOYAGE MONITORING METHODS AND CARGO LOADING
      CERTIFICATION FROM APPROVED AGENTS. THE MIFF
      COORDINATOR MAY CONSIDER ALTERNATE
      PRE-CLEARANCE PROCEDURES ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
   C. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PRE-CLEARANCE OPTIONS
      DISCUSSED ABOVE, THE MULTINATIONAL FORCES
      RETAIN THE RIGHT TO CONDUCT DOCUMENT CHECKS
      AND AT-SEA INSPECTIONS OF ANY VESSEL.
4. INCOMPLETE DOCUMENTATION: IRAQ-BOUND VESSELS
   WHICH ARE DETERMINED TO HAVE INCOMPLETE CARGO
   MANIFESTS OR TO BE OTHERWISE IN VIOLATION OF
   REQUIREMENTS LISTED IN THIS ADVISORY, MAY BE
   DETAINED BY THE MULTINATIONAL FORCES OR DIVERTED
   TO A NON-IRAQ PORT UNTIL APPROPRIATE CONDITIONS
   ARE MET.
5. FERRIES AND PASSENGER SHIPS: FERRIES OR
   PASSENGER SHIPS TRAVERSING THE MIFF CHECKPOINT
   WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
   A. VESSELS CARRYING PASSENGERS ONLY I.E. SHIPS
      HAVING NO COMMERCIAL CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY
      MAY ARRANGE FOR AN EXPEDITIOUS TRANSIT THROUGH
      THE CHECKPOINT BY FORWARDING A CERTIFIED
      PASSENGER LIST AT LEAST 72 HOURS PRIOR TO
      TRANSIT BY FAX OR LETTER. ADDITIONALLY, TEN
      DAYS PRIOR TO FIRST TRANSIT A CERTIFIED
      ATTESTATION BY FAX OR LETTER FROM A RECOGNIZED
      MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
      CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES (ICES) THAT THE SHIP
      IN FACT HAS NO CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY.
   B. EXPEDITIOUS TRANSIT THROUGH THE CHECKPOINT
      WILL BE AFFORDED TO CARGO-PASSENGER FERRIES
      THAT EMPLOY A PORT STATE AUTHORIZED AND
      MONITORED IMPORT CARGO INSPECTION THAT HAS
      BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE MIFF COORDINATOR.
   C. A PASSENGER VESSEL ARRIVING IN THE CHECKPOINT
      THAT HAS NOT COMPLIED WITH THE REQUIREMENTS
      OF PARAGRAPH 5.A WILL BE BOARDED AND
      INSPECTED DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS ONLY. IF IT
      IS DETERMINED THAT THE VESSEL HAS NO
      COMMERCIAL CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY, ITS
      IDENTIFICATION WILL BE RECORDED SO THAT IT
      MAY BE VISUALLY IDENTIFIED AND NOT BOARDED
      DURING SUBSEQUENT TRANSITS.
6. FOR MERCHANT ADVISORY UPDATES, VESSELS SHOULD
   CONTACT THE  COMMANDER, U.S. NAVAL FORCES CENTRAL
   COMMAND, MARITIME INTERCEPTION  FORCES COORDINATOR
   (N31CG), FPO AE 09501 6008, PHONE: 973 724 839
   OR 973 724 627, FAX: 973 829 117 OR 973 724 344.