Yemen – New Procedure for Commercial Goods Permits

26 May 2016

Members whose vessels are calling at ports in Yemen should note that new procedures to facilitate commercial imports have been instituted by the United Nations at the request of the Government of Yemen. 

The new procedures, known as the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM), require shipping companies and vessel owners who are shipping commercial goods or bilateral assistance (government to government transfers) to any port in Yemen that is not under direct control of the Government of Yemen (ie. Port Saleef, Mokha, Hodeidah and associated oil terminals) to apply for the relevant permit upon departure from the port of origin of their cargo. The UNVIM is effective immediately and the UNVIM’s online form can be accessed by clicking here. For a copy of the Standard Operating Procedures for the UNVIM for Yemen, click here, and further information is available on the UNVIM website, which can be accessed by clicking here.

Members should note that the United Nations arms embargo imposed by UN Security Council Resolution 2216 of 2015 remains in place – click here to access a copy. This includes an obligation on Member States to inspect all cargo (including screening of containerised cargoes) in their territory that is destined for Yemen, if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the cargo contains prohibited items.