U.S.-flag vessels cautioned on entering Georgian ports

U.S.-flag vessels cautioned on entering Georgian ports The U.S. Maritime Administration in a notice urged U.S.-flag vessel operators to exercise extreme caution in the port areas of Georgia, which have been under threat of attack since fighting erupted over the weekend between Georgia and Russia and the separatist forces of South Osettia in northern Georgia.
   A tense ceasefire between Russia and Georgia is in place.
   MarAd advised vessel operators to check the current warning status from the State Department Task Force 1 — phone (202) 647-6611, or e-mail taskforce-1@state.gov — before approaching seaports in Georgia.
   U.S.-flag vessel operators may also contact Owen Doherty of MarAd’s Office of Security at (202) 366-1883, or by e-mail at owen.doherty@dot.gov for further information.