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1. The Liberian Administration has noted an increase in repeatable areas of noncompliance, which have led to ships getting detained within different PSC regimes. Consequently, the Administration has decided to establish the following additional measures with immediate effect:

• Additional requirements for vessels calling US ports.
• Case-by-case analysis of inspection reports that show repetitive failures in the implementation of the ISM Code on board, requiring closer monitoring by the issuing entity of the SMC and/or this Administration.

2. If the vessel is detained, the case will be analyzed to determine the conditions that led to this result by the administration. If upon completion of the analysis, the Administration determines that the vessel wasn’t maintained properly or did not rectify deficiencies found during a previous attendance, the ship may be cancelled or put in a different registration category, which could imply additional frequency of inspections and more costs for the owners or operators while being registered with Liberia.

3. Vessels which are found to have repetitive deficiencies during Flag or Port State Control Inspections may be considered for deletion from the Registry.

4. Every vessel calling US ports must fill up and send to the Administration at NOA@liscr.com a pre arrival check list (RLM 258) at least 96 hours prior the calling the first US port. For the checklist, which must be signed by the Master and the Chief Engineer, and additional information, please refer to Marine Operations Note 04/2025 attached to this circular.

5. For vessels calling a port in China, Europe or Australia, the prearrival checklist (RLM 258) is to be submitted as soon as a port in the concerned areas is identified as the next port of arrival.

6. Considering the vessel’s dynamic risk factor, the Administration may assign a Flag State Inspector to assist the vessel during its call to China, Europe, USA or Australian Ports, or to provide a Dynamic Prevention Checklist. This decision will depend on whether the Corrective Action Report of the last PSC and FSI have been submitted and approved by the Administration.

7. In addition to the above actions, every bulk carrier or container ship over 10 years old calling US ports could be subject to an additional inspection by a Liberian Flag Inspector at the last port before the first port to be called in the US.

8. If an inspection is required by the Administration at the first US port or the last foreign port and the Liberian inspector is not available, the Recognized Organization responsible for the issuance of the statutory certificates on behalf of Liberia are to be contacted to carry out an occasional survey to verify that:

• deficiencies found in the past 12 months during Port State and Flag State inspections have been fully rectified;
• there are no overdue Conditions of Class or mandatory statutory surveys; and,
• provisions listed on any active dispensations are being complied with.

9. Masters/operators to send a copy of the Advanced Notice of Arrival submitted to the USCG, 96 hours prior to reaching any US port. Please refer to Marine Operations Note 05/2025 attached in this circular.

10. Master to input the correct port Code in the AIS for the first US port to be called at least 96 hours in advance. For vessels visiting several US ports, the subsequent correct port codes are to be submitted to the AIS as soon as possible.

11. Ship owners/ operators and masters of Liberian flagged ships are advised to be guided by above and ensure compliance.

Enclosure:

• Liberia Marine Notice PSC 002 
• Liberia Marine Operations Note 04/2025  
• Liberia Marine Operations Note 05/2025

Disclaimer:

This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.                      

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