The US Coast Guard has introduced new security requirements for vessels arriving at US ports after calling at Somalia. The measures, which came into force on 27 October 2026, were implemented due to Somalia's ports not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures. This decision was published in the Federal Register under docket USCG-2026-0110. As a result, Somalia was formally added to the Coast Guard's Port Security Advisory list.
The new requirements bring the number of countries subject to heightened security measures to 24. Under the Maritime Transportation Security Act, the Coast Guard can impose additional conditions on vessels arriving from foreign ports that are assessed as having inadequate anti-terrorism measures. These measures aim to strengthen security on board vessels before they enter US waters. The requirements are designed to ensure that vessels implement necessary security protocols to mitigate potential risks.
Vessels that have called at Somalia during their previous five port calls must comply with additional security requirements. These include implementing measures equivalent to Security Level 2 under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, in accordance with the vessel's approved security plan. Ships without an approved security plan must take appropriate security precautions. This may include guarding all access points and maintaining visibility of their exterior on both the landside and waterside.
Masters are required to attempt to establish a Declaration of Security with the relevant port facility and record the security measures taken in the vessel's security records. The appropriate US Coast Guard Captain of the Port must be notified of the measures implemented before the vessel arrives. The Coast Guard can board or examine vessels to verify compliance. Failure to demonstrate compliance may result in delays or denial of entry to US ports.
Somalia's designation adds it to a list of countries whose ports the Coast Guard has assessed as lacking effective anti-terrorism measures. Other countries on the list include Iran, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Haiti, Venezuela, Cambodia, Cameroon, and North Korea. The move follows recent changes to the US port security framework in 2026, including the removal of Nigeria from the advisory and the addition of Haiti to the list.
The new designation does not amount to a blanket ban on vessels that have visited Somalia. Instead, it creates additional security and compliance obligations for shipowners, operators, and masters planning subsequent voyages to the United States. The rules can have implications beyond a vessel's immediate call at a Somali port, as the framework takes into account a vessel's previous five port calls.
The Coast Guard's decision emphasizes the importance of advance security planning, coordination between masters and company security officers, and maintaining records that demonstrate compliance during inspections. The latest measure comes amid wider security concerns in waters off Somalia, where incidents involving armed groups and commercial vessels have continued in 2026.
Key points
- The US Coast Guard has added Somalia to its Port Security Advisory list due to inadequate anti-terrorism measures in its ports.
- Vessels that have called at Somalia must comply with additional security requirements, including implementing measures equivalent to Security Level 2 under the ISPS Code.
- The new requirements aim to strengthen security measures on board vessels before they enter US waters and mitigate potential risks.
