On 28th March, Transport Malta issued the following notice to Shipowners, Ship Operators and Managers, Masters, Owners’ representatives and recognised organizations, with regards to the navigation in the sea area surrounding Japan:

In the wake of the earthquake and tsunami off the eastern coast of Japan on 11 March 2011 and the damage to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the Merchant Shipping Directorate would like to draw the attention of all concerned to the NAVAREA warnings including designated dangerous area around the Plant that have been issued by the NAVAREA XI Coordinator (Japan) and also other precautionary warnings that have been issued by other NAVAREA Coordinators.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan confirmed that all international sea ports not damaged by the earthquake and tsunami are operating normally and no health risk is detected around the ports, based on the results of measurements of radiation levels by local governments. Further information is available on the website of the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/en/).

Masters and operators of Maltese ships that operate or may operate in the area are strongly advised to comply at all times with the latest navigational warnings issued by the NAVAREA XI Coordinator (Japan), taking into account further precautionary advice issued by other NAVAREA Coordinators, in the wake of the damage to the Plant.