1. References: This advisory updates U.S. Maritime Advisory 2023-015 and [replaces
Advisories 2023-012 and 2023-013].

2. Issue: This Advisory provides updates to maritime security resources, websites, and
information. Significant updates are [bracketed].

3. Guidance: The U.S. Maritime Advisory System website, which contains all current and
expired U.S. Maritime Alerts and Advisories, is maintained by the Maritime Administration
(MARAD). Upon U.S. Government (USG) clearance of Alerts and Advisories, they are
broadcast by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and distributed via email. It
is important to note these are USG products and are not solely MARAD or NGA authored
products. Additional information on this system, including information on participating USG
agencies and subscribing, is available at https://www.maritime.dot.gov/msci.

Feedback provided by U.S. commercial maritime stakeholders regarding the U.S. Maritime
Advisory System has greatly assisted the USG in pursuing continued enhancements to this
system. Feedback to MARADSecurity@dot.gov is always welcome.

GPS interference in conflict zones and purposeful interference by nation state actors affects
maritime navigation in various parts of the world. [ Mariners are encouraged to take the
following precautions:]

[Report instances of suspected GPS interference to the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center
(NAVCEN) through its online reporting form at https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/report-aproblem
or via phone at 703-313-5900, 24-hours a day.]

[Develop plans for responding to GPS disruptions that affect safe navigation of vessels prior
to getting underway.]

[When a GPS outage occurs, incidents should be reported in real time to NAVCEN. Incidents
reported to NAVCEN will also be disseminated to the NATO Shipping Centre. NATO
Shipping Centre reporting information is available at https://shipping.nato.int/nsc/page10303037.]

[Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) are open, unencrypted, and unprotected radio systems
intended to operate on non-secure VHF-FM channels. As such, AIS signals can be spoofed,
resulting in incorrect or missing AIS data. Also, AIS devices do not always have virus or
malware protection installed, so cyber security best practices against hacking should be
adhered to if you connect your AIS to a network or update it using removable electronic
devices (e.g. USB drives). AIS, while an invaluable situational tool, should never be solely
relied upon for collision avoidance or navigational decision-making.]

The Maritime Industry Cybersecurity Resource Center website at
https://www.uscg.mil/MaritimeCyber/ serves as a one-stop-shop for maritime industry
stakeholders to find trusted maritime cybersecurity tools and resources, including government
points of contact and current industry-focused cybersecurity resources critical to protecting the
Marine Transportation System (MTS) from cyber threats. Additionally, information on the
importance of multi-factor authentication is available at https://www.cisa.gov/mfa.

The Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) publishes weekly Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS)
reports, which provide information on piracy and armed robbery at sea activity, trends, and
details of recent incidents. The reports can be found on ONI's "Shipping Threat Reports"
website at https://www.oni.navy.mil/ONI-Reports/Shipping-Threat- Reports/Worldwide-
Threat-to-Shipping/.

NGA’s Publication No. 117 (Radio Navigational Aids) provides communications and other
important information for mariners. This resource is available at
https://msi.nga.mil/api/publications/download?key=16694477/SFH00000/Pub117bk.pdf
&type=view and has been corrected to September 2021 as noted in the preface of the
publication.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Department of the Treasury administers
and enforces economic sanctions based on U.S. foreign policy and national security goals,
including those related to specific countries and governments, terrorists, international narcotics
traffickers, those engaged in activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction, and other threats to the national security, foreign policy or economy of the United
States. In some cases, these sanctions may affect maritime trade. Maritime industry
information on tools to counter current and emerging trends in sanctions evasion related to
shipping and associated services can be found at: https://home.treasury.gov/policyissues/
financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20200514. Additional OFAC sanctions information
and notices can be found at: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financialsanctions/
sanctions-programs-and- country-information. Questions relating to OFAC sanctions
may be emailed to: ofac_feedback@treasury.gov. The Department of State has certain
authorities to implement a range of nonproliferation, counterterrorism, and country specific
sanctions, among others, which may affect maritime trade. Information about non-proliferation
sanctions can be found at: https://www.state.gov/key-topics-bureau-of-international- security-and-
nonproliferation/nonproliferation-sanctions/.

The U.S. Department of State maintains a list of countries determined by the Secretary of State
to have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism. The four main
categories of sanctions resulting from designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism are:
restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance; a ban on defense exports and sales; certain controls over
exports of dual use items; and miscellaneous financial and other restrictions. The list of
countries designated as State Sponsors of Terrorism is available at:
https://www.state.gov/state-sponsors-of-terrorism/.

U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories discuss safety and security information that should
be reviewed by U.S. mariners prior to disembarkation in foreign ports. These travel advisories
are available at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control Travel Notices may affect maritime interests, especially
during overseas crew changes or passenger embarkation/disembarkation and can be found at:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices. U.S. Maritime Alerts and/or Advisories may
occasionally be published to highlight health threats depending on their scope, urgency, and
impact, but mariners are advised to become familiar with this web resource and refer to it prior
to [and while] traveling.

The Maritime Global Security website at https://www.maritimeglobalsecurity.org/ offers
industry-issued best practices and guidance to mariners by geographic region and provides
contact and subscription information for regional maritime security reporting centers,
particularly in high risk-areas.

Maritime industry stakeholders who wish to receive U.S. Maritime Alerts and Advisories must
self-register by following the subscription instructions at
https://www.maritime.dot.gov/msci/us-maritime-alerts-and-advisories-subscriptions. [Please
note that this self-registration system utilizes a govdelivery.com URL, but future U.S.
Maritime Alerts and Advisories sent via this system will arrive from the marad@info.dot.gov
email address, which should be added to the approved senders list within your email account to
ensure that future U.S. Maritime Alerts and Advisories sent to you are not blocked.]

4. Contact Information: Questions regarding the U.S. Maritime Advisory System may be
emailed to the Global Maritime Operational Threat Response Coordination Center at
GMCC@uscg.mil.

5. This Advisory will automatically expire on [October 12, 2024].

For maritime industry questions about this Advisory, contact the Global Maritime Operational
Threat Response Coordination Center at GMCC@uscg.mil. Supplemental information about
U.S. Maritime Alerts and Advisories, including subscription details, may be found
at: https://www.maritime.dot.gov/msci. Feedback provided by U.S. maritime industry
stakeholders regarding the U.S. Maritime Advisory System has greatly supported the USG in
pursuing continued enhancements to this system. Feedback to MARADSecurity@dot.gov is
always welcome.