PORTUGAL INFORMED OF 2005 PORT STATE CONTROL

UNCLAS LISBON 001776 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/TRA/OTP DORIS HAYWOOD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ATRN ECON ELTN ETRD EWWT PREL PTER AFSI PO SUBJECT: PORTUGAL INFORMED OF 2005 PORT STATE CONTROL REPORT LISTING REF: STATE 119265 ¶1. Per reftel, POL/ECON Officer met with Eduardo da Silva Martins, President of the Portuguese Port and Maritime Transport Institute to notify him of the Coast Guard,s 2005 Port State Control (PSC) report to be released later this year. Martins was advised that Portugal was identified as having a safety detention ratio higher than the overall average and that it would appear - for the first time - on the Safety Boarding Matrix. ¶2. Martins was familiar with the PSC report and acknowledged that Portugal's performance during 2005 was not perfect. He was not surprised by Portugal's listing and stressed that the Portuguese port authorities were working with U.S. maritime officials on rectifying these safety problems. At his request, POL/ECON Officer also provided Martins with a copy of the 2004 PSC Report. ¶3. Martins will circulate this information to appropriate GOP officials and will again advise the Portuguese shipping companies of the importance of safety and security, whether shipping to the U.S. or other international destinations. O'Neal