Security advisory: US executive order likely to impact ships calling US ports

Overview

The Standard P&I Club has suggested that President Trump’s executive order restricting entry to the US by citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries could impact the shipping sector:

As the order bans all immigrants or non-immigrant entry of citizens from Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran and Libya for the next 90 days, crewmembers aboard ships entering US waters who are citizens of these countries will be denied entry to the US,” said The Standard Club. “At this time, it is not believed that ships carrying crew from these countries will be denied entry into US ports. However, members should anticipate that shore leave will be denied for those crewmembers and that enhanced security of the ship, including the use of armed guards, may be ordered by local immigration officials while the ship is in a US port.

The Standard Club said the executive order may also affect crew replacements in the US and members should avoid crew changes in the US involving crew from the seven affected countries, regardless of their visa status, for the next 90 days. In the case of a medical emergency, there is an exception under the executive order that may allow the crewmember to be removed from the ship for medical treatment.

BIMCO members should be alert to the above guidance as the denial of shore leave and the requirement to pay for enhanced security was already a common occurrence for vessels deemed to be of higher risk by USCG. It is therefore highly probable that vessels with such crew will be affected. 

BIMCO will keep members informed but would ask members to report such occurrences to: security@bimco.org

Giles Noakes
By Giles Noakes
in Copenhagen, DK

Coronavirus

Access BIMCO's COVID-19 related articles and advice.

Read more

VPS Bunker Alerts

Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) publish regular Bunker Alerts based entirely on fuel samples and have kindly permitted BIMCO’s Members to access this information.

The Bunker Alerts are not intended to be an evaluation of overall bunker quality in the port or area concerned, but usually highlight a specific parameter within the fuel which has raised a quality issue.

Latest piracy reports

 

Latest industry releasable threats

 
 

ELSEWHERE ON BIMCO

Contracts & Clauses

All of BIMCO's most widely used contracts and clauses as well as advice on managing charters and business partners.

Learn about your cargo

For general guidance and information on cargo-related queries.

More about cargo

BIMCO Publications

Want to buy or download a BIMCO publication? Use the link to get access to the ballast water management guide, the ship master’s security manual and many other publications.

About a new business partner

We can help members check new business partners. We also help to recover millions of USD (undisputed) funds every year.