Croatia on top of flag state performance for

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000940 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ATRN ECON ELTN ETRD PREL PTER AFSI SUBJECT: Croatia on top of flag state performance for Coast Guard report Ref: State 119265 1.Econoff and Naval Attach learned officials at the Ministry of Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development have been keeping track of the performance and numbers of violations of flag state vessels in US waters themselves, but that they were unaware of the U.S Coast Guard's annual Port State Control (PSC) Report. ¶2. Econoff and Naval Attach LCDR Graham Jackson met with Assistant Minister Tomislav Miletic, PSC Officer Milan Mimica and Stjepan Vuk, head of the department of Safety of Navigation and Maritime Environment Protection Authority to explain why Croatia remains on the PSC report for 2005. Although fewer than 30 Croatian ships have entered US waters over the past three years (the e report covers 2003-2005),two ships have been boarded and detained, giving Croatia a higher than average detention rate of 3.17 percent for safety violations. ¶3. Mimica said he notified all Croatian shipping companies of Croatia's strict shipping security regulations. He said the problems often arise from new companies and the lack of influence by the GOC because most ships never enter Croatia. ¶4. Mimica reported he already knew of another detention in April 2006 in which a crewmember left his post at the gangplank. Mimica said his office warned the shipping company and the crewmember was dismissed. LCDR Jackson explained this incident will not appear on the Coast Guard's 2005 report but will be added to the next three- year total (2004-2006) and Croatia will probably appear on the 2006 report as well. ¶5. At Mimica's request, LCDR provided a copy of the Coast Guard's 2004 report and contact information so the ministry can keep track of inspections. DELAWIE