KIRIBATI'S SHIP REGISTRY SYSTEM -- MORE DETAIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SUVA 000397

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2017
TAGS: EWWT PTER KCRM ASEC KR
SUBJECT: KIRIBATI'S SHIP REGISTRY SYSTEM -- MORE DETAIL

REF: SUVA 386

Classified By: Amb. Dinger. Sec. 1.4 (B,D)


1. (SBU) The Republic of Kiribati has hired a Singapore
company as agent to license commercial ships under the
Kiribati flag. When we raised the matter with Kiribati
President Tong on July 20, he acknowledged that traditionally
Kiribati had handled its own ship-registry service which only
dealt with commercial ships plying the vast Kiribati EEZ in
the Pacific. However, having observed that some other
nations were apparently making money via off-shore ship
registries, Kiribati decided to try its hand. Currently
Kiribati has registered 48 ships via the Singapore office,
and Tong made clear his goal is "many more." Secretary for
Communication, Transport, and Tourism, David Yeeting, gave a
similar account.


2. (SBU) We noted to both Tong and Yeeting the USG interest
that ship registries be carefully overseen so as not to
facilitate international crime or terrorism. Both understood
the message. Yeeting told us Kiribati chose the same
Singapore agent that Tuvalu has used, in part because the
agent has a very responsible reputation. The agent
reportedly does background checks and "elaborate screening"
of prospective registrations. Following up on e-mail advice
from INR/EAP, we asked if Kiribati could provide data on what
ships are under Kiribati registry. We recalled an incident
last year in which a merchant ship flying the Kiribati flag
was boarded by U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf. At the time,
the Government of Kiribati saw an internet report of the
incident and realized no legitimately flagged Kiribati ship
was in the Persian Gulf. However, at the time of boarding,
U.S. forces did not have that information. Up to date
sharing of information would be of real use in U.S.
anti-criminal efforts on the high seas. Both Tong and
Yeeting said they were confident data-sharing arrangements
could be made. They asked what details the U.S. would need.
Yeeting noted that the Australian Government has also raised
an interest in ship-registry access.


3. (C) PACOM's J5 Pacific Desk Director participated in the
meetings. In the meeting with Yeeting, she described an
agreement with the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)
that allows U.S. forces expedited approval to board
RMI-registered vessels for law-enforcement purposes. Might
Kiribati also be amenable to such an arrangement? Yeeting
said he would be glad to consider such a proposal if the USG
wishes to present it.

Action request
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4. (C) Assuming Kiribati-flagging information can help in USG
efforts against international crime, Washington may wish to
consult with the Australian Government on a joint effort to
obtain and share up-to-date information from Kiribati on
ships in its Singapore-based registry. If an agreement
similar to that with the RMI is of interest, please advise
next steps.
DINGER