The Authorities of the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) wish to clarify and inform the general public that the October 15, 2018 Advisory given to the US Coast Guard by the US Department of Homeland Security regarding restrictions of vessels entering US waters from certain ports in several countries including Liberia is not a downgrade of our port operations in any respect and only relate to compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code issued by IMO in 2002 which became effective in 2004.
On 21 January 2019, the Globe Afrique website reported under the caption “U.S. Department of Homeland Security Imposes Restrictions on Vessels from Liberia” and insinuated that the restrictions were based on vessels coming from Iraq to Liberia coupled with Liberian businesses that were on sanction. The website also indicated that vessels from ports in Liberia, especially the Port of Monrovia, were under restrictions. Nothing could be farthest from the truth. In fact, the report specifically stated that the Freeport of Monrovia was an exception to the restrictions.
Liberia’s premier port, the Freeport of Monrovia (IMO Port Number LRMLW-0001), is not affected by this restriction issued by the US Department of Homeland Security to the US Coast Guard.
The Authorities at Maritime will like to make the following general clarifications:
1. That the Advisory issued on 15 October 2018 included various countries like Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Gambia, etc
2. That the report does not link to vessels flying the Liberian flag but rather to vessels leaving any of the following ports in Liberia (Buchanan, Greenville and Harper)
3. That the report is specifically related to ISPS compliance and has nothing to do with vessels coming from Iraq; sanctioned on Liberian companies; or missing money
4. That the report specifically indicated that Port of Monrovia was an Exception
5. That Government is aware that the ports of Buchanan, Greenville and Harper are not yet certified as being ISPS compliant.
On the basis of the above, the Authorities will like to inform the general public and shipping community that the Advisory issued by the US Department of Homeland Security is not a downgrade of Liberia in any respect and that the ISPS Designated Authority is doing everything in working with relevant stakeholders including National Port of Authority, LPRC and other port facility users to ensure that Buchanan and Greenville are certified as fully ISPS compliant by end 2019.