On 23rd March 2011, Transport Malta issued the following notice to Shipowners, Ship Operators, Managers and Ship Masters, relating to the further restrictive measures to the Ivory Coast:

The Merchant Shipping Directorate would like to remind all concerned that Merchant Shipping Notice No 65 dealing with the ban on the shipment of equipment related to military activities in Ivory Coast is still in force and is to be complied with at all times.

Moreover, attention is also drawn to the adoption on 14 January 2011, of European Council Regulation (EC) No 25/2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 560/2005 imposing certain specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Ivory Coast. Attention is drawn in particular to Article 2 and Annex 1A of Regulation (EC) No 560/2005, as amended, dealing with the freezing of assets and economic resources.

The Maltese Government has aligned itself with these sanctions through the publication of Enforcement of European Union Sanctions (Ivory Coast and Tunisia) Regulations, 2011 (Legal Notice 80 of 2011).

To this effect, shipping organizations established in Malta or operating Maltese ships are required to abide by these sanctions when planning their operations and, to extend their full cooperation for their enforcement.

The shipping community is reminded that without prejudice to the penalties contemplated in the said regulations for violations against these sanctions, the use of Maltese ships in any such violation may be considered as being against the interest of Malta and of Maltese shipping and may lead, inter alia, to closure of registry.

The electronic version of Legal Notice 80 and the full text of the Council Regulations can be downloaded from:

http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/legalnotices/2011/03/LN%2080%20english.pdf