U.S. COAST GUARD ENGAGES OMANI GOVERNMENT ON ISPS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000932

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI (TROBERTS),NP/ECC (TGROEN)
AMMAN FOR J. IRVINE
ROTTERDAM FOR M. BEE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM ETTC EWWT KSTC ETRD MU
SUBJECT: U.S. COAST GUARD ENGAGES OMANI GOVERNMENT ON ISPS
COMPLIANCE

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SUMMARY
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1. (U) A representative of the United States Coast Guard
(USCG) International Port Security Program initiated a
dialogue with the government of Oman on efforts to comply
with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code.
The visit revealed important developments in Omani maritime
security, including the government's desire to create a
unified command center and authority for maritime security,
an upgrade of closed-circuit televisions for ports Salalah
and Sultan Qaboos, and developing a coastal surveillance
network with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) and
radar detection. The Ministry of Transportation and
Communications has also signed a $9 million contract to
purchase five container scanners for placement at critical
border crossings with Yemen and the United Arab Emirates.
End Summary.

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OMAN ISPS COMPLIANCE
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3. (U) Lieutenant Commander Mike Bee, the U.S. Coast Guard's
Regional Liaison Officer (RLO) for International Ship and
Port Security (ISPS) Code compliance, conducted an
orientation visit to Oman May 29-June 1, 2005 to learn about
the Sultanate's ISPS Code implementation, promote bilateral
cooperation, and exchange ideas and best practices in
maritime security. LCDR Bee met with key government and
industry officials responsible for ISPS implementation and
gained an initial insight into Oman's approach to ISPS and
maritime security challenges.


4. (SBU) Prior to Oman's ratification of the ISPS Code, the
Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MTC)
contracted U.K.-based security specialist Hudson-Trident to
perform port facility security assessments and draft security
plans for each of Oman's eight international trade port
facilities. Port facility security plans were approved for
all ports by May 30, 2004, and were immediately followed by
Oman's official ratification of the ISPS code on June 12,
2004 (Royal Decree 63/2004).

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ISPS ORGANIZATION
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5. (U) In meetings with the Ministry of Transportation and
Communications, lead Omani ISPS coordinator Mohamed bin Aziz
al-Abdisalam, Director of Maritime Affairs, provided a brief
synopsis of Hudson-Trident's recommendations and the overall
ISPS organization and plans for implementation in Oman.


6. (SBU) Although general maritime security currently falls
under the supervision of the MTC, the Royal Oman Police (ROP)
is the primary operational agency, with the ROP Coast Guard
providing land and waterside security inside port boundaries
and up to 12 nautical miles out to sea.


7. (SBU) In a technical oversight committee currently chaired
by the Director of Maritime Affairs, representatives from the
ROP Coast Guard and Customs, the Ministry of Defense,
relevant port authorities, and the MTC meet regularly to
discuss ISPS implementation at each of Oman's international
trade ports.

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MARITIME SECURITY DEVELOPMENTS
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8. (SBU) At Port Sultan Qaboos (Muscat),LCDR Bee met with
ROP Coast Guard Commander Colonel Ali Saleh al-Balushi,
Deputy Commander Lieutenant Colonel Badr al-Zadjali, and Port
Sultan Qaboos Executive President Saud al-Nahari. The
officials welcomed the opportunity to discuss ISPS
implementation at Omani ports and shared information on
planned developments in maritime security.

Physical Security Upgrades
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9. (SBU) Although ports Sultan Qaboos and Salalah both meet
the government of Oman's threshold for ISPS compliance,
officials at the MTC confirmed that fencing around restricted
access areas, construction of new controlled-access gates,
and installation of closed-circuit televisions are underway.
Al-Nahari also said that in light of Muscat's growing
popularity as a tourist destination for passenger ships,
construction will begin on a 6th berth for a separate
passenger cruise terminal at Port Sultan Qaboos. (Note: Oman
received the world's largest passenger ship, the Queen
Elizabeth II, earlier this year, and boasted hosting almost
10,000 ship-to-shore passengers in 2004. End Note.)

Organization
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10. (SBU) The ISPS implementation committee, spurred by
Hudson-Trident's recommendation, has sent two progressive
policy and program recommendations to the Sultan for
consideration and funding. One recommendation includes
creating a unified command center and authority for a
maritime security agency that would report directly to the
Sultan and would incorporate the activities of the ROP Coast
Guard, Maritime Affairs, and Navy. The other recommendation
is to develop a coastal surveillance network with an
Automatic Identification System (AIS) and radar detection to
create a more complete offshore maritime picture, ultimately
requiring small fishing vessels and dhows to carry a location
transponder onboard. Although both recommendations are under
consideration, officials at the MTC believe it is only a
matter of time before the recommendations come into effect.


11. (SBU) In additional efforts to enhance security and
protection along Oman's lengthy borders, the Ministry of
Transportation and Communications recently signed a $9
million contract to purchase five container scanners.
According to one official at the MTC, the scanners will be
placed along critical border-crossings with Yemen and the
United Arab Emirates, as well as at Port Sultan Qaboos. A
planned second-phase expansion is expected to place scanners
at the import/export gates at Ports Salalah and Sohar.

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COMMENT
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12. (SBU) LCDR Bee was impressed with the government's
systematic and thorough approach to ISPS implementation.
However, although the ports appear to have good security
practices in place, and present a low risk to U.S. maritime
security, LCDR Bee proposed a follow-up visit in the fall to
monitor physical security upgrades underway at Port Sultan
Qaboos, as well as to visit the burgeoning Port Sohar.


13. (U) LCDR Bee cleared this cable.
BALTIMORE