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15 October 2004

Five Countries Removed from U.S. Coast Guard Targeting List

Decision affects Singapore, Lebanon, three African countries

The U.S. Coast Guard says U.S.-bound ships registered in Singapore will no longer be subject to the increased scrutiny introduced after the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) international port and ship security standards went into force July 1.

In an October 13 news release, the Coast Guard said it removed Singapore from the list of foreign-flag countries whose ships are targeted for boarding and additional scrutiny on arrival to the United States because of below-average compliance with the international anti-terrorist requirements. Singapore's compliance has improved, the Coast Guard said.

Also released from increased scrutiny are ships that have visited in their last five port calls Lebanon, Guinea, Mozambique and Nigeria, the Coast Guard said. These countries have recently reported compliance with the standards.

The list of targeted flag countries can be viewed at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/pscweb/FlagSecurity.htm

The list of countries whose ports have not complied with the IMO standards can be viewed at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/pscweb/last_ports_of_call_isps.htm

Following is the text of the news release:

(begin text)

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
United States Coast Guard

DATE: October 13, 2004

COAST GUARD UPDATES SAFETY AND SECURITY BOARDING TARGETING LISTS
Flag state administrations and previous ports of call are factors in determining security risk

WASHINGTON -- The Coast Guard has updated security targeting information for foreign flag vessels, which includes a vessel's flag state administration and last five port of calls. The revised information is provided on the following web site: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/pscweb/index.htm. The information for flag states and recognized security organizations will be updated monthly until the end of the year. Targeting statistics will be compiled annually and published in an annual report starting in 2005.

Flag administrations whose names appear on the targeted flag state list have demonstrated a below average compliance rate in the United States for security since July 1. Foreign vessels flying these flags can expect increased scrutiny and boardings based on this information. Singapore's compliance has improved over the last month, and the Coast Guard has removed Singapore from the targeting list.

The countries listed in the last port of call targeted list have not reported their compliance with new International Ship and Port Facility Security Code reporting requirements. A Port Security Advisory outlines these countries and may be found at the following website: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/mp/xport.html. The Coast Guard will target vessels for increased boardings upon arrival to U.S. ports if they have visited one of these countries in their last five port calls. Four countries have recently reported international compliance with the ISPS Code and have since been removed from the list. Those countries are Lebanon, Guinea, Mozambique and Nigeria.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

This page printed from: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=October&x=20041015110050SAikceinawz0.5946619&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html