After a series of ongoing maritime security incidents that have occured when transiting or operating the Red Sea, the Bab-el Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden (GOA) in early December 2023, the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize (IMMARBE) encourages its Belize flagged vessels to use the Northern Sea Route (NSR) or Cape of Good Hope Route as alternate routes, since the Gulf of Aden, the Bab-el Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea have become more problematic for commercial shipping with increasing maritime security attacks on ports and vessels.

Nevertheless, vessels that are required to operate through this region are recommended:

• To contact local port authorities and ship’s agent to obtain the most up-to-date and reliable information.
• For vessels transiting the Red Sea and the GOA are to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity to the Maritime Security Centre as well as to record the information in the ship’s logbook.
• To implement extra protective measure in accordance with the Ship Security Plan if necessary, in the Gulf of Aden, the Bab-el Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea.
• To ensure that all available recommendations from the Best Management (BMP5) have been followed and all necessary actions are taken prior to and while transiting through the GOA and the Red Sea.
• To inform Belize administration before entering this region by means of email along with whether or not the vessel will carry armed personnel for their intended voyage. Also, to notify Belize administration when the ship has departed the area for the administration to be aware that the ship is clear of any risks or incidents.

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