AQABA PORT ISPS SECURITY PLAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 000982

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NP/ECC - P. VAN SON
STATE ALSO PASS TO US COAST GUARD
DHS FOR CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2015
TAGS: EWWT ETRD ETTC PARM KSTC PREL JO
SUBJECT: AQABA PORT ISPS SECURITY PLAN

REF: A. 04 STATE 219111 (NOTAL)

B. 04 STATE 200534 (NOTAL)

C. 04 STATE 160115

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David Hale. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Aqaba port authorities are working
hard to comply with the International Maritime Organization's
(IMO) International Ship and Port Facility Security Plan
(ISPS),which took effect last July 1 (Ref C). A strong
management team from the Aqaba Special Economic Zone
Authority (ASEZA) is working with a private consulting firm
to implement the ISPS in phases over the next few years.
However, the Aqaba Ports Corporation and the newly formed
Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) that oversees the
physical port infrastructure face stiff challenges ahead and
will likely need technical assistance, including in areas of
port security vulnerability assessment and marine-side
security of the port. The semi-autonomous authorities in
Aqaba are committed to meeting basic ISPS security benchmarks
by the next IMO deadline of June 30 and hope in the long run
to implement a security plan consistent with Aqaba's desire
to be a world-class port facility. END SUMMARY.

ISPS and Port Facility Security
--------------


2. (C) Emboffs visited Aqaba port in November and again in
a follow-up visit January 27, specifically to review the ISPS
in light of Jordan's commitment to an Export Controls and
Related Border Security (EXBS) program. In a meeting with
Econoff and TDY EXBS advisor January 27, the Director General
of the Jordan Maritime Authority said that a committee under
his chairmanship was monitoring ISPS implementation from a
government regulatory point of view and would continue to
work with the IMO and the Ministry of Transportation. For
the day-to-day implementation of security, JMA is responsible
for security/safety inspection of Jordanian-registered ships
and those ships entering port that have not had a routinely
scheduled inspection. To date, these ships have presented no
serious problems, the JMA team noted,or have come up to
compliance when minor infractions were noted.


3. (C) The Ports Corporation has responsibility for
implementing the Port Facility Security Plan under the ISPS.
However, as ownership of the Aqaba Port has just been
transferred to the newly designated umbrella Aqaba
Development Corporation (ADC),it has been ADC's task to
implement the ISPS security plan across three areas (main,
container, and industrial ports) stretching along some 18
kilometers of coastline, with interspersed smaller facilities
such as rice stores and a bulk cement berth. The security
plan -- covering access control, perimeter monitoring,
emergency responses -- is now being studied by consulting
company Hudson Trident Marine to determine what hardware and
human resources are required on a sequenced timeline. We
heard that a force of 100 guards will handle overall port
security, answering to a single coordinated command. This is
in addition to the extensive police, military and
intelligence presence in Aqaba, all of whom work closely with
Israeli authorities in the neighboring, smaller port of Eilat.


4. (U) ADC has commissioned Bearing Point to follow up with
its overall port development plan and they are working
closely on ISPS implementation with security consultant
Hudson Trident Marine.

ISPS Plan on Track
--------------


5. (C) Hudson Trident is scheduled to finish in late
February its detailed ISPS implementation plan, including
ready-to-go tenders for security infrastructure and hardware
-- from fencing to high-tech sensors. In the meantime,
according to Bearing Point project manager Arun Aggarwal, the
ADC has every intention of meeting, if not exceeding, the
basic security requirements of the ISPS by the first 12-month
deadline this coming June 30. Aggarwal is quick to note that
the undertaking is complex and said technical assistance
would be greatly appreciated.

6. (C) COMMENT: ADC's ongoing development plan is in
addition to other GOJ proposals to expand the port (Ref A).
Aqaba Port is a strategic supply point for Iraq and the
coalition forces. Jordanian officials do not underestimate
the port's potential as a target for terrorists. At the same
time, the port's rapid development, just after a difficult
time of serious congestion, has put strains on all aspects of
management. The Customs side of the operation -- which
benefited from DHS-supported EXBS Seaport Interdiction
training last July -- is in good basic working order, though
at Customs, too, there is room for improvement. However,
Jordan has a long to-do list to meet ISPS requirements. It
would appear that ADC and the Aqaba Ports Corporation are on
track to meet the ISPS benchmarks, but technical assistance
in areas such as port vulnerability assessment or marine-side
security (through the U.S. Coast Guard) or other help already
discussed as possible (Ref B) would be welcome and timely.


7. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
HALE