COAST GUARD FINDS TAIWAN SUBSTANTIALLY IMPLEMENTING ISPS

UNCLAS TAIPEI 002490 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/ TC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT TW SUBJECT: COAST GUARD FINDS TAIWAN SUBSTANTIALLY IMPLEMENTING ISPS CODE ¶1. (U) A four-member U.S. Coast Guard team visited Taiwan July 17-21 under the International Port Security Program to examine Taiwan's implementation of the International Maritime Organization's International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. The team consisted of Pacific Area Inspections/Investigations Branch Chief Stephen Danscuk, Port Security Assessment Specialist Gregory Blake, LCDR Yuri Graves and LCDR Richard Kavanaugh. The team met with Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) and Taiwan Coast Guard officials in Taipei and visited the harbors of Keelung, Taichung and Kaohsiung. ¶2. (SBU) The Coast Guard team's preliminary findings indicate Taiwan's ports are substantially implementing the ISPS Code. It saw room for improvement in Keelung where the older harbor facilities are bordered on all sides by urban areas. However, it identified several best practices in each of the Taiwan facilities. The team gave MOTC officials an abbreviated informal report of its findings. A more formal report will be delivered to the Taiwan authorities in the next three to four months. ¶3. (U) This telegram was cleared by U.S. Coast Guard LCDR Richard Kavanaugh. YOUNG