The US Coast Guard has added the Federal Republic of Somalia to its Port Security Advisory, determining that the East African nation is not maintaining effective antiterrorism measures at its ports. The decision, published in the Federal Register and effective October 27, 2026, imposes new conditions of entry on commercial vessels arriving in the United States after calling at Somali ports.
The move brings the total number of countries on the Coast Guard’s affected-port list to 24, joining jurisdictions including Iran, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, and Venezuela. The designation follows a formal assessment under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, which authorizes the Coast Guard to evaluate antiterrorism measures in foreign commercial ports and impose conditions on vessels arriving from locations deemed inadequate.
Under the established Port Security Advisory framework, vessels that have visited Somalia among their previous five port calls must implement a series of enhanced security measures while in Somali ports as a condition of entry into the United States. Ships with approved security plans are required to operate at measures equivalent to Security Level 2. Vessels must also ensure each access point is guarded with total visibility of both the landside and waterside exterior, attempt to execute a Declaration of Security, log all security actions in the vessel’s security records, and report actions taken to the relevant Coast Guard Captain of the Port prior to arrival in the US.
Vessels may be boarded or examined by the Coast Guard to verify compliance. Failure to properly implement the required measures may result in delays or denial of entry into the United States. Following an examination, the Coast Guard can also require armed security guards at vessel access points while a ship is in a US port, though that requirement will normally be waived for vessels able to demonstrate and document satisfactory security compliance.
The new designation adds a compliance obligation for operators trading between East Africa and the United States, including vessels calling at Somali ports before proceeding to other destinations. It is separate from maritime warnings concerning piracy and attacks on shipping in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean.
The Coast Guard’s action reflects a broader pattern of periodic reassessment of foreign port security arrangements. In August 2026, the agency removed Nigeria from the advisory after determining that the West African nation was maintaining effective antiterrorism measures, a reversal of a 2014 designation. Earlier in February 2026, the Coast Guard revoked port facility exemptions for Cameroon, Iraq, and Madagascar, requiring vessels visiting those countries to comply with the full set of security conditions.
The current list of countries assessed as not maintaining effective antiterrorism measures includes Cambodia, Cameroon, Comoros, Cuba, North Korea, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Madagascar, Micronesia, Nauru, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Timor-Leste, Venezuela, and Yemen.
Separately, the International Maritime Organization held a port-security and inter-agency coordination workshop in Bosaso, Puntland State of Somalia, from September 14 to 17, 2026. The programme brought together port, security, and government authorities and focused on implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, information sharing, and coordinated responses to security incidents.
