MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US Coast Guard conditions vessels arriving from Venezuela

As of January 23 the United States Coast Guard is imposing conditions of entry on vessels arriving from Venezuela. The measures will be applied to “any type of vessels arriving from Venezuela”.

The measures are "primarily due to the fact that the Venezuelan ports have not maintained effective anti-terrorism measures," said Bena Barry, spokesman for the US Coast Guard. Under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, Homeland Security can impose conditions of entry for vessels arriving from ports that are not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures. Ships that visited ports in Venezuela during their last five port calls must, among other actions, report security measures to the Coast Guard; post guards at vessel access points, and implement measures per the ship's security plan equivalent to Security Level 2. Vessels are also subject to inspection by the Coast Guard, which may require armed private security guards while the ship is in US ports. According to Barry "the restrictions would be imposed until a remarkable change in the security of Venezuelan ports is carried out". Another US spokesperson, Nadine Santiago said that the Venezuelan government has refused repeatedly "to accept requests to review the security measures taken by the Venezuelan ports," to establish whether they are effective and consistent with the requirements of the Department of Homeland Security. Until then the captain of any vessel entering US waters must deliver the US Coast Guard a detailed report of security measures implemented while the vessel was docked or anchored in Venezuelan ports. Ms Santiago said that besides Cuba, Venezuela is the only country in the western hemisphere that has been recently subjected to the operational restriction. The Federal Aviation Administration has also imposed restricting measures on Venezuela because of the "lack of cooperation from the government of Venezuela in making effective joint measures to counter potential terrorist actions in Venezuelan airports".