U.S. Maritime Liaison Office (MARLO) Bahrain Issues Advisory on Warning and Exclusion Zones

May 19th Advisory: WARNING AND EXCLUSION ZONES AROUND THE KHAWR AL'AMAYA OIL TERMINAL (KAAOT) (29-46.8N 048-48.5E) AND THE AL BASRA OIL TERMINAL (ABOT) (29-40.8N 048-48.5E)

1. ALL MARINERS ARE ADVISED TO REMAIN CLEAR OF COALITION MARITIME SECURITY FORCES AND TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AND MAKE THEIR INTENTIONS KNOWN WHEN OPERATING IN THE VICINITY OF COALITION WARSHIPS. IF QUERIED, MARINERS SHOULD CLEARLY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AND STATE THEIR INTENTIONS AND, IF GIVEN DIRECTIONS FROM COALITION WARSHIPS, THEY SHOULD IMMEDIATELY EXECUTE SUCH DIRECTIONS SO AS TO MAKE THEIR INTENTIONS KNOWN. MARINERS ARE REMINDED THAT COALITION WARSHIPS ARE PREPARED TO TAKE DEFENSIVE MEASURES, INCLUDING, IF NECESSARY, THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE AGAINST ANY CONTACT WHOSE
IDENTITY OR INTENTIONS ARE UNKNOWN AND WHICH SUBJECTIVELY POSES A THREAT.

2. WARNING ZONES AND EXCLUSION ZONES ARE ESTABLISHED AROUND THE KHAWR AL'AMAYA OIL TERMINAL (KAAOT) (29-46.8N 048-48.5E) AND THE AL BASRA OIL TERMINAL (ABOT), FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE MINA AL BAKR OIL TERMINAL (29-40.8N 048-48.5E) AS FOLLOWS:

3. KAAOT WARNING ZONE. THE WARNING ZONE EXTENDS 3000 METERS FROM THE OUTER EDGE OF THE TERMINAL STRUCTURE, IN ALL DIRECTIONS, CREATING A RACETRACK SHAPE 6990 METERS LONG BY 6107 METERS WIDE, ORIENTED NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST, CENTERED ON THE TERMINAL. THIS WARNING ZONE IS COMPLEMENTARY TO THE EXCLUSION ZONE ESTABLISHED LATER IN THIS ADVISORY.

4. ABOT WARNING ZONE. THE WARNING ZONE EXTENDS 3000 METERS FROM THE OUTER EDGE OF THE TERMINAL STRUCTURE, IN ALL DIRECTIONS, CREATING A RACETRACK SHAPE 7030 METERS LONG BY 6107 METERS WIDE, ORIENTED NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST, CENTERED ON THE TERMINAL. THIS WARNING ZONE IS COMPLIMENTARY TO THE EXCLUSION ZONE ESTABLISHED AND DETAILED LATER IN THIS ADVISORY.

5. VESSELS ARE TO REMAIN CLEAR OF THE WARNING ZONES FOR ALL BUT
ESSENTIAL TRANSITS. IF TRANSIT REQUIRES ENTRY INTO THE ZONE, VESSELS ARE TO CONTACT COALITION MARITIME SECURITY FORCES VIA MARINE VHF
CHANNEL 16, IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AND MAKE TRANSIT INTENTIONS KNOWN. IF COALITION MARITIME SECURITY FORCES ORDER A VESSEL TO DEPART THE WARNING AREA, THE VESSEL SHOULD IMMEDIATELY DEPART. SUCH DIRECTION WILL BE GIVEN ONLY WHEN NECESSARY TO KEEP THE VESSEL FROM STANDING INTO DANGER OR WHEN IT IS CONSIDERED BY THE COALITION FORCES THAT THE VESSEL'S PRESENCE CONSTITUTES A DIRECT SUBJECTIVE THREAT TO EITHER OIL TERMINAL. NO FISHING OR ANCHORING IS PERMITTED IN THE WARNING ZONES IN ANY WAY OR FORM WHATSOVER.

6. ABOT AND KAAOT EXCLUSION ZONES. AROUND EACH TERMINAL THERE IS AN EXCLUSION ZONE WHICH EXTENDS 2000 METERS FROM THE OUTER EDGES OF THE TERMINAL STRUCTURES IN ALL DIRECTIONS. THE RIGHT OF INNOCENT PASSAGE IS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW IN THE KAAOT AND ABOT EXCLUSION ZONES.

7. VLCC TRAFFIC TO THE TERMINALS IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN AT HIGH LEVELS INDEFINITELY. IN ADDITION TO BERTHING AND DEPARTING VLCCS AND ASSISTING TUGS, COALITION WARSHIPS CONDUCTING MARITIME SECURITY PATROLS MANOEUVRE UNPREDICTABLY WITHIN THE WARNING AND EXCLUSION ZONES.

8. ONLY TANKERS AND SUPPORT VESSELS AUTHORIZED BY TERMINAL OPERATORS OR COALITION MARITIME SECURITY FORCES ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE EXCLUSION ZONES. VESSELS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE ZONES WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION MAY BE SUBJECTED TO DEFENSIVE MEASURES, INCLUDING WHEN NECESSARY, THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE. ALL REASONABLE EFFORTS INCLUDING ESTABLISHED PRE-PLANNED RESPONSES WILL BE TAKEN TO WARN VESSELS AWAY BEFORE EMPLOYING DEADLY FORCE. DEADLY FORCE WILL BE EMPLOYED WHEN NECESSARY TO PROTECT COALITION MARITIME SECURITY FORCES, LEGITIMATE SHIPPING PRESENT IN THE EXCLUSION ZONES AND THE OIL TERMINALS.

9. QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ADVISORY MAY BE DIRECTED TO COMMANDER, U.S. NAVAL FORCES CENTRAL COMMAND, IZMS COORDINATOR (N31CGA), FPO AE 09501 6008, PHONE: 973 1785 4627 OR 973 1785 4839, FAX: 973 1785 9117 OR 973 1785 4344 OR THE U.S. MARITIME LIAISON OFFICE (MARLO) BAHRAIN, AFTER HOURS DUTY PHONE: 973 3 940-1395; OFFICE PHONE: 973 1785 3925; FAX: 973 1785 3930

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