DEMARCHE ON NO ANCHORING PROPOSAL

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001776

SIPDIS


STATE FOR OES/OA - JOHN BARNES
STATE PASS NOAA/N/IP LINDY JOHNSON


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EMIN EWWT KSCA PHSA SENV NL
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON NO ANCHORING PROPOSAL


REF: STATE 109225



1. IN RESPONSE TO REFTEL, WE CONTACTED MARTEN KOOPMANS,
SENIOR STAFFER IN THE DUTCH TRANSPORT MINISTRY'S TRANSPORT
SAFETY DEPARTMENT, WHO WILL HEAD THE DUTCH DELEGATION TO THE
IMO SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ON SAFETY OF NAVIGATION (NAV).
KOOPMANS TOLD US THAT THE U.S. PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN DRAWN UP
IN CLOSE COOPERATION WITH THE DUTCH. DUTCH TRANSPORT
MINISTRY ADVISOR LAMEIJER, WHO CHAIRS THE NAV SUBCOMMITTEE
WORKING-GROUP ON ROUTING, HAS BEEN IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH
NOAA POC LINDY JOHNSON.



2. KOOPMANS SAID THAT, DESPITE OVERALL DUTCH SUPPORT FOR
THE PROPOSALS, THERE IS ONE MINOR POINT FOR CONCERN. HE
SAID THERE IS A SMALL RISK THAT THE IMPLICIT EFFECT OF
ESTABLISHING "NO ANCHORING" AREAS MAY BE THAT IT WILL GIVE
SHIPPERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE OTHER DELICATE AREAS, THAT
HAVE NOT BEEN ASSIGNED AS SUCH.



3. THE DUTCH DELEGATION WILL CONSIST OF KOOPMANS, LAMEIJER,
AND NAV SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN KEES POLDERMAN.
SCHNEIDER