MARAD Releases Advisory on Iranian Navy Exercises

On Friday, December 23, 2011, MARAD released the following advisory (2011-07) concerning vessel inspections being conducted by the Iranian Navy:

Reports from maritime forces and commercial maritime interests indicate concern with the potential for localized disruption to shipping in conjunction with future Iranian Naval exercises. During previous exercises Iranian maritime forces conducted boarding and inspections of merchant ships, including those flagged to European nations. The possibility exists that Iran will attempt to conduct boarding and inspection during exercises between December 2011 and March 2012. The most likely location for this activity would be in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz, particularly in areas closer to Iranian territorial waters.

If a US-flag vessel is hailed for boarding by the Iranian Navy in international waters the ship’s master should “protest but comply,” if circumstances warrant.
US-flag vessels are advised to report incidents to the Comusnavcent Battlewatch Captain (Maritime Operations Center) at 011-973-1785-3879, and Marlo Bahrain at 011-973-3940-1395.

For further information regarding this advisory, contact Captain Robert Ford, Maritime administration, Office of Security, Code: MAR-420, Room W25-308, 1200 New Jersey 710-822-9426 (MARAD DOT WSH), or Email: [email protected]