🔍 Key Concepts

• Naval Control of Shipping (NCS) role in wartime or crisis • Difference between U.S. vs allied vs consular authorities in a neutral port • How "neutral" status affects which nation's military can exercise control

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: In a neutral port, can a U.S. military officer routinely board and direct foreign merchant ships without host nation agreement? • Consider which of the listed officials would most likely be officially recognized to interact with merchant shipping in a neutral country. • Think about whether Naval Control of Shipping is normally organized on a purely national basis or can be coordinated among allied nations.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify who normally exercises Naval Control of Shipping in foreign or neutral ports during crises or war. • Check the typical function of consular officers and whether they usually perform operational control/boarding of merchant ships. • Consider whether allied arrangements might allow more than one of the listed officials to lawfully board and instruct your ship.