United States adds Somalia to port security risk list

The United States Coast Guard has added Somalia to its list of countries that do not maintain effective counterterrorism security measures at their ports. The decision, announced in the Federal Register and effective as of October 27, 2026, follows an assessment by the Coast Guard regarding security arrangements at Somali port facilities.

Vessels arriving in the United States after visiting Somali ports will now be subject to additional security and port entry requirements. Under the Maritime Transportation Security Act, these rules apply to ships that have visited a listed country during their last five port calls.

To comply, vessels may need to implement safeguards equivalent to Security Level 2, which includes guarding all access points and completing a Declaration of Security with port facilities. Failure to implement these precautions may result in the delay or denial of entry into the United States. The Coast Guard also maintains the authority to require ships to post armed guards while in U.S. waters. Somalia joins 23 other countries on the list, including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela, and North Korea.