Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TAIPEI1014
2007-05-04 08:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:  

MEGAPORTS KAOHSIUNG - PROGRESS SO FAR AND PROSPECTS FOR THE

Tags:  EWWT ETTC ENRG KNNP PARM PTER TW 
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VZCZCXRO5343
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHIN #1014 1240842
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 040842Z MAY 07
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5148
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS TAIPEI 001014 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/TC
ENERGY FOR NNSA MICHAEL BEDKE
HONG KONG FOR CBP RICHARD POWELL
DHS FOR CSI VINCENT HUANG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EWWT ETTC ENRG KNNP PARM PTER TW
SUBJECT: MEGAPORTS KAOHSIUNG - PROGRESS SO FAR AND PROSPECTS FOR THE
FUTURE


UNCLAS TAIPEI 001014

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/TC
ENERGY FOR NNSA MICHAEL BEDKE
HONG KONG FOR CBP RICHARD POWELL
DHS FOR CSI VINCENT HUANG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EWWT ETTC ENRG KNNP PARM PTER TW
SUBJECT: MEGAPORTS KAOHSIUNG - PROGRESS SO FAR AND PROSPECTS FOR THE
FUTURE



1. (U) Summary: The Megaports Program in Kaohsiung has made notable
progress toward implementation over the last year. Support for the
program is strong among Taiwan agencies, and AIT sees no substantial
obstacles to successful implementation in the near future. As the
world's sixth busiest container port with a growing cargo volume,
this program (as well as the Container Security Initiative in both
Kaohsiung and Keelung ports) is important to U.S. trade security.
AIT looks forward to continuing to work with Washington agencies to
bring this project to successful completion. End summary.

Progress to Date
--------------


2. (U) The Megaports Program in Kaohsiung has made notable progress
toward full implementation since the AIT-TECRO Memorandum of
Understanding for the program was signed just under a year ago on
May 30, 2006. The Department of Energy Megaports Kaohsiung team has
traveled to Kaohsiung and Taipei on five separate occasions since
then.

--June 2006 - The team visited to meet with officials and terminal
operators and prepare for a technical survey of the port.

--July 2006 - The technical survey was conducted to prepare a
conceptual plan for the installation monitors at the port.

--October 2006 - The team secured agreement from port authorities
and terminal operators for the conceptual plan to identify radiation
monitor locations.

--January 2007 - A larger team conducted the engineering survey
during two weeks to begin preparing a detailed and comprehensive
plan for construction and installation of the monitors.

AIT is currently waiting for the next DOE visit to secure the
necessary commitments from port officials and terminal operators to
the construction and installation plan. During the visit, the
Megaports team will seek to secure Taiwan Customs approval to allow
the DHS Container Security Initiative (CSI) Office in Kaohsiung to
monitor alarms generated by Megaports radiation detectors. This
approval will be sought based on an agreement between DHS Customs
and Border Protection and DOE to work together to implement
Megaports projects around the world.

Strong Support in Taiwan
--------------


3. (SBU) AIT is eager to move forward with the Megaports Program in
Kaohsiung. We have devoted considerable resources to this effort in
both Taipei and Kaohsiung. If approvals are secured from Taiwan
Customs, the CSI team in Kaohsiung will also play an important role
in implementation. Support from the Taiwan stakeholders is also
strong. Cooperation from Customs and Harbor Bureau authorities in
Kaohsiung has been excellent. The agencies that oversee them in
Taipei are also committed to the project at the highest levels.
Terminal operators have expressed reservations about specific
elements of the installation plan. However, DOE Megaports officials
have successfully addressed many of their concerns, and, to date,
they are fully cooperating with implementation of the program. We
do not foresee any major obstacles to fully realizing the program in
Kaohsiung.

Important to Trade Security and U.S.-Taiwan Relations
-------------- --------------


4. (U) Comment: The Megaports Program in Kaohsiung will make an
important contribution to enhancing U.S. trade security. Taiwan is
the United States' ninth largest trading partner and Kaohsiung is
the world's sixth busiest container port. Although the port has
slipped in world rankings, its container volume continues to grow.
Last year, 9.7 million TEU's passed through the Port of Kaohsiung up
3.2 percent from 2005. Because Taiwan's cooperation with the
program is so strong, we believe an exceptionally effective system
can be implemented here as has been the case for CSI.


5. (SBU) We also believe that disruption in the Megaports Program
now could cause serious repercussions for other programs in Taiwan
such as CSI and overall security and enforcement cooperation.

YOUNG