Turkish Maritime Security: Visit of Coast

UNCLAS ANKARA 005558 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EB/TRA/OTP AND EUR/SE PARIS FOR TSA AND ECON COAST GUARD FOR G-MPP - CRD LOSCIUTO DEPT PASS TRANSPORTATION DEPT ROME FOR ICE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT PTER ETRD TU SUBJECT: Turkish Maritime Security: Visit of Coast Guard Liaison Ref: Ankara 5144 and previous Not for Internet Distribution. ¶1. In introductory calls on September 16, LCDR Michael Bee, DHS/Coast Guard's International Port Security Liaison, described the U.S. International Port Security Program to Gurcan Balik, of the MFA Maritime Department, Okay Kilic, Head of the Maritime Security Department of the Turkish Maritime Administration (MA) and Nihat Asan, Head of Department for Ports and Coastal Facilities at the MA. Balik, Kilic and Asan were receptive to the concept of bilateral cooperation and reciprocal exchanges, including a possible return visit and port tour for LCDR Bee later this year. ¶2. Both MFA and MA told Bee that the GOT is serious about full compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, and thanked the Coast Guard for recognizing this by excluding Turkey from its recent Port Security Advisory. Kilic told us that Turkey is implementing both mandatory (Part A) and recommended (Part B) ISPS standards, and that all facilities which do not comply with the requirement to implement the code have been closed down. He noted that six port facilities which do not carry on any international trade are voluntarily complying with the Code in order to preserve their eligibility for trade in the future. In Turkey, recognized security organizations may complete port security assessments, but only MA may approve port security plans. ¶3. Kilic stated that the Transport Ministry imposed ISPS requirements in Turkey through a regulation, but that the GOT plans to propose legislation modeled in part on the U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act. Kilic told us that the amendments, to be submitted to Parliament in 2004 or 2005, will contain stricter ship and port security requirements than those in the ISPS Code. The new legislation would also enable the GOT to require port owners to install vessel tracking systems. ¶4. Comment: Embassy believes that LCDR Bee's visit laid the groundwork for mutually-beneficial collaboration on port security. Post encourages Coast Guard to continue to coordinate its work and visits with those of DHS' Customs and Border Protection (proposed Container Security Initiative) and with DHS' Transportation Security Administration so that we can maintain cooperation from the various Turkish agencies working in this area without unnecessary burden to them or the USG. Edelman