Circular issued by International Group clubs On 14 May 2020 the US issued a Global Maritime Advisory ("Guidance") aimed at a range of industry sectors including marine insurers such as P&I clubs and shipowners and charterers. A copy of the Guidance can be found here . The Guidance updates and expands earlier advisories concerning Iran, Syria and North Korea ("the DPRK"). The Guidance provides detail on the level of due diligence and other compliance related activities expected by the US Government of parties whose business activities run a risk of engaging in trades that may breach US sanctions. It applies specifically to the sanctions' regimes surrounding Iran, Syria and the DPRK and provides information relevant to both US and non-US companies. The Guidance covers the following sectors of the maritime industry: Marine Insurance Flag Registry Managers Port State Control Authorities Shipping Industry Associations Commodity Traders, Suppliers and Brokers Financial Institutions Shipowners, Operators and Charterers Classification Societies Vessel Captains Crewing Companies The significance of the document lies in the fact that it represents an attempt by the US Government to set out the standards by which the marine industries will be judged if they are linked to sanctions breaking. In the past the US has been critical of the role played by the maritime industries in providing goods and services to countries that are the subject of sanctions. In several well publicised actions it has acted against companies where it considered that compliance practices have been inadequate or deliberate sanctions breaking was involved. The impact of such measures can have profound implications for a company and in extreme circumstances can prevent it from continuing to do business. To the extent that the Guidance clarifies US expectations of what it considers to be good compliance practice in the maritime industry it should be welcomed. Equally it is important to recognise that the