News 23 Dec, 2011 U.S. Proposed Legislation Introducing Restrictive Trade Measures on Ships Calling at U.S. Ports: Iran, North Korea, and Syria Sanctions Consolidation Act of 2011 This report alerts members to the U.S. Government's legislative proposals which are likely to introduce tougher measures in support of trade embargoes on Iran, Syria and North Korea. The measure most directly impacting the shipping industry is a proposed new "180 day rule," which provides that vessels may not knowingly call at any port in the United States to load or unload cargo or engage in the trade of goods or services if the vessel previously entered a port in Iran, North Korea, or Syria during the 180-day period preceding the arrival of the vessel in the United States. This proposal, which is similar to current US policy for Cuba, has passed the House of Representatives and could become law imminently if passed by the Senate and signed by the President. The proposed legislative amendment to the Ports and Waterways Safety Act (33 USC 1221 et seq.) would require either "the owner, charterer, operator, or master" of a vessel to "certify" prior to arrival in a US port, "that the vessel did not enter a port in Iran, North Korea, or Syria during the 180-day period ending on the date of arrival of the vessel" in a US port. In addition to other applicable criminal and civil penalties, ships found to have submitted false declarations could be subject to prohibitions including a prohibition from call at a port in the U.S. for a period of at least 2 years. This could apply to any vessel for which a false declaration was made and to other vessels owned by a parent/associated company. The draft legislation also contains provisions which Direct federal authorities to carry out enhanced inspections on vessels that have landed in Iranian, North Korean or Syrian ports during the preceding 12-months to determine whether the vessel was involved in any sanctioned proliferation-related activity. Data fro