Lebanon
General Information for Lebanon
Geo-political:
Capital City: Beirut.
Nationality: (noun) Lebanese, (adjective) Lebanese.
Population: 4,017,095.
Communications:
International Direct Dial Code: 961.
Number of Internal Airports: 5.
Major Languages Spoken: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian.
Economy:
Currency: 1 Lebanese Pound (LBP) of 100 Piastres.
Main Industries: Banking, tourism, food processing, wine, jewelry, cement, textiles, mineral and chemical
products, wood and furniture products, oil refining and metal fabricating.
Environment:
Territorial Sea: 12 n.m.
Coastline Extent: 225 km.
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains
experience heavy winter snows.
Natural Resources: Limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region and arable
land.
Natural Hazards: Dust storms, sandstorms.
Terrain: Narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains.
Average Temperatures:
| Month | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 17° C | 11° C |
| June | 28° C | 20° C |
| September | 28° C | 23° C |
DOCUMENTS:
See "
Pre-Arrival Information".
ISPS COMPLIANCE:
The Lebanese Ministry of Transport has advised that a dedicated National Contact Point
is established to monitor and assist vessels in respect of the ISPS Code application.
Full details are as follows:
National Contact Point, Directorate General of Land and Maritime Transport, Wadi Abou
Jmil, George Pico Street, Starco Building, 3rd Floor. Tel: +961 (1) 371644. Mobile: +961 (3) 312385. Fax: +961 (1) 371647.
[email protected] VHF Channel 16 (emergency/incidents reporting). Contact: Eng. Abd El Hafiz Al Kaissy,
General Manager of Land and Maritime Transport.
The National Contact Point operates throughout 24 hours.
PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION:
As part of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1701, the United Nations Interim
Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) controls merchant traffic heading to the ports of Lebanon
or in transit in Lebanese territorial waters. Vessels approaching Lebanese territorial
waters must be prepared to calls and if necessary to be checked by warships.
All vessels entering Lebanese territorial waters should obtain permission to enter
from the maritime authorities 36 to 24 hours in advance, via Agent. All vessels shall
call Beirut Port Control on VHF Channel 16 when 12 n.m. from Beirut port.
Further details of UNIFIL available at
unifil.unmissions.org/unifil-maritime-task-force
Pre-Arrival Message:
Vessels shall forward the following information prior to entering Lebanese operations:
- MMSI No.
- vessel′s name
- registered owner
- IMO No.
- ISSC No.
- call sign
- flag
- registry port
- Master′s name
- classification society
- year built
- last 2 ports of call
- g.t.
- n.t
- S.d.w.t.
- draft
- LOA
Pre-Arrival Documents:
Additionally the following documents to be prepared on board before entering the Lebanese
waters:
4 Cargo Manifest (from loading port, stamped and signed by the Master)
1 Crew List
7 Crew lists (including parents' names for each crew member)
1 Crew Vaccination List
4 Global Manifests (prepared by the Master)
1 International Tonnage Certificate (Copy)
4 Last 10 Ports of Call
1 List of ship′s certificates
1 Medical Certificate (Copy)
1 Nil List
4 Not negotiable Bills of Lading (stamped and signed by Master)
1 Registry Certificate (Copy)
1 Ship Sanitary Control (Exemption) Certificate (Copy)
1 Ship′s particular
1 Stores List
Entering Procedure:
Vessel shall first proceed to Tripoli and call ``Oscar November'' on VHF Channel 11
or 16 prior to entering the 12.0 n.m. national waters limits to obtain permission
to enter Lebanese waters, calling again when 6.0 and 3.0 n.m. from Ramkin. At 3.0 n.m.
vessel will receive a call to change course to the port of call.
Entry point for Lebanese waters is 34° 30.00′ N, 035° 31.00′ E. Vessel shall also send their Bill of Lading and cargo Manifest by fax or email prior
to entry.
POLLUTION:
Small amounts of dispersant spraying equipment and dispersant are held by public authorities
at the larger ports. Oil terminals are equipped to tackle minor oil spillages. Five
private response companies exist in Lebanon and tugs are available from the private
sector in each port.
Contact:
Spill Notification Point: Ministry of Public Works & Transport (for Oil & HNS), Directorate
General of Land & Maritime Transport. T: +961 (1) 371644/5/6. F: +961 (1) 371647.
[email protected]
MEDICAL:
Medical treatment in Lebanon can be expensive. Most hospitals are well equipped. Doctors
are generally well qualified though nursing standards vary. The majority of medical
staff speak French and English. Make sure you have adequate health insurance and accessible
funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 112 and ask for an
ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if
you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.
SURVEYORS:
Lebanese Bureau of Shipping. T: +961 (3) 960245. T: +961 (3) 894098. F: +961 (1) 372794.
[email protected]
www.lebshipping.com
HOLIDAYS:
1 January (New Year's Day); Al-Adha (Karban Bairam); Ashoura; New Year (Islamic);
22 March (Arab League Day); Good Friday; Good Friday (Oriental); Easter Monday; Easter
Monday (Oriental); 1 May (Labour Day); 6 May (Martyr's Day); Ascension Day; Mohamed's
Birthday; 15 August (Assumption Day); 1 November (All Saint's Day); 22 November (Independence
Day); Ramadan; 25 December (Christmas Day).
CONNECTIONS:
Road Travel:
Roads, including the Beirut airport road, are subject to closure without notice. Driving
standards are poor and the accident rate is high. Traffic lights are not always observed.
Avoid travelling at night outside towns if possible. Vehicles with diesel engines
are banned. Carry ID with you at all times and be prepared to stop at check points
to show your papers. The army have set up temporary check points on major and minor
roads.
SHORE LEAVE:
The risk to foreigners from petty or violent crime is moderate. There is a risk of
vehicle crime and bag snatching. Take sensible precautions to protect yourself and
your belongings.
There have been incidents of armed robberies and physical attacks against passengers
in shared taxis (known locally as service taxis) with passengers being attacked by
either the driver or other passengers. Don’t use shared taxis or taxis hailed on the
street. Only use taxis from recognised companies.
Celebratory gunfire into the air is common throughout Lebanon, including in response
to speeches and messages by political leaders. If you find yourself in an area where
there’s celebratory gunfire, take cover in a building and move away from windows.
The security situation can deteriorate quickly. Demonstrations and other forms of
civil unrest can occur at short notice and often turn violent. Regional developments
can have an impact on the local security situation. Monitor local media and avoid
all protests.
There have been clashes in recent years between Lebanese security forces and militants
in Tripoli and in areas north of Tripoli, including in Minyeh and Banine resulting
in civilians, soldiers and militants being killed and/or injured.
Terrorism:
There is a high threat from terrorism. There is a high threat of attacks by Islamist
extremist groups, which could be indiscriminate and affect Lebanese security authorities,
checkpoints and places visited by foreigners like hotels, restaurants, tourist sites,
western-style shopping centres and supermarket chains. Security authorities are at
a high state of alert and conducting security operations across Lebanon. If you notice
that a security operation is underway you should immediately leave the area. You should
exercise extra vigilance. Bystanders have been killed in a number of terrorist attacks
in recent years; attacks have involved car bombs and grenades and explosive belts.
Kidnap:
There is a threat of kidnapping in Lebanon. The Lebanese authorities have warned that
foreigners, including westerners could be targeted by kidnappers and other militant
groups. Kidnappings have occurred in the Bekaa Valley, the Syrian border regions and
Beirut, but could take place anywhere in Lebanon.
REPATRIATION:
Stop Matches:
Lebanese Immigration authorities check all visitors’ names on arrival against a database
of those wanted for, or convicted of, offences in Lebanon. If a name matches against
an entry on the database the individual may be detained (or on occasion allowed entry
upon surrender of their passport) until they can prove that the record does not relate
to them. It’s often possible to do so by producing a copy of a birth certificate or
other official documentation that allows parents’ names to be checked against the
database. You should consider carrying this kind of supporting documentation.
