Persian gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea

With reference to the serious developments in the Middle East, the Norwegian Maritime Authority is extending the area with an elevated security level, MARSEC/ISPS Level 2, to the following areas:

• Iranian territorial waters
• The entire Strait of Hormuz
• International waters in the Gulf of Oman

It is recommended to minimize transit time in Iranian territorial waters by navigating in international waters as close to Oman as possible. The situation is highly unstable and may escalate rapidly. This also applies to ports and other international waters in the region.

The risk of GNSS and AIS interference is very high throughout the entire region. It is recommended to establish a safety margin to prevent unintended entry into Iranian territory in case of spoofing or loss of positioning signals.

Recommended Measures

• Conduct a comprehensive security assessment before the vessel enters the area. Threat assessments and transit advice for the region are provided by UKMTO and EUNAVFOR and can be found on the MSCIO website.
• Report to UKMTO and MSCIO in accordance with guidelines.
• Ensure that contingency procedures and routines for GNSS/GPS signal loss are relevant, up to date in accordance with the threat landscape, and implemented on board.
• Use "BMP Maritime Security" in preparations and operations and prepare the vessel and crew through planning and drills.
• Stay alert and maintain a high level of situational awareness, both at sea and in port.