The International Maritime Organization has issued Circular Letter No. 3175 dated 23 March, 2011 informing parties concerned on the navigation in the sea area surrounding Japan in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011. In this circular, shipmasters are advised to comply with the latest navigational warnings issued by the NAVAREA XI Coordinator (Japan), taking into account further precautionary advise issued by other NAVAREA Coordinators, in the wake of the damage to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

A joint press briefing was issued on 18 and 20 March, 2011 by the World Health Organization, the International Maritime Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization stating that international flights and maritime operators can continue normally into and out of Japan ™s major airports and sea ports, excluding those damaged by the earthquake and tsunami.

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  that no health risk has been detected around the ports based on the results of measurements of radiation level by local governments.

Further information is available on the website of the World Health Organization http://wwww.who.int./en/.


Date Filed: 10 May 2011


(SGD.) CARLOS S. CAO, JR.
Administrator