Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAGHDAD50
2008-01-07 15:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

SEEKING KUWAITI CONCURRENCE ON MNF-I SALVAGE

Tags:  EWWT KU MARR MCAP MOPS PBTS PINS PNAT PREL IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6156
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #0050/01 0071543
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 071543Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5133
INFO RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT IMMEDIATE 0312
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000050 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2018
TAGS: EWWT KU MARR MCAP MOPS PBTS PINS PNAT PREL IZ
SUBJECT: SEEKING KUWAITI CONCURRENCE ON MNF-I SALVAGE
OPERATIONS

REF: A. 07BAGHDAD 4136

B. KUWAIT 0015

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000050

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2018
TAGS: EWWT KU MARR MCAP MOPS PBTS PINS PNAT PREL IZ
SUBJECT: SEEKING KUWAITI CONCURRENCE ON MNF-I SALVAGE
OPERATIONS

REF: A. 07BAGHDAD 4136

B. KUWAIT 0015

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 7.


2. (C) Summary. On December 18, 2007, the Kuwaiti Navy
ordered two vessels contracted by the Multi-National Force in
Iraq (MNF-I) to depart disputed waters in the Khawr Abd Allah
(KAA) waterway. These contracted vessels were surveying two
submerged shipwrecks for eventual removal. Embassy Kuwait
delivered a diplomatic note on December 26 to the GOK
requesting concurrence to allow the ships to return to
recover lost equipment and complete their mission. Delay
costs since December 18 are about $2 million, roughly half of
the entire contract allocation for this survey mission.
Embassy Baghdad requests the Department bring this issue to
the attention of the Kuwaiti Ambassador in Washington in
order to get a positive response to the diplomatic note. End
Summary.

Incident Background
--------------


3. (C) On December 18, the Kuwaiti Navy ordered two vessels
contracted by the MNF-I to immediately depart from their
anchored position in disputed waters in the Khawr Abd Allah
(KAA) waterway. The Captain was forced to cut anchors and
cables which secured the diving platform to the seabed in
order to comply with the Kuwaiti navy request and avoid
boarding (Reftel A). The ship was contracted by MNF-I to
undertake a detailed survey of two submerged wrecked ships
which pose a significant navigation hazard. This is a
required step prior to MNF-I planned operations for their
eventual removal.


4. (C) Embassy Kuwait subsequently delivered a diplomatic
note to the GOK requesting concurrence for the ships to
return to the disputed area, retrieve the lost anchors and

cables, and complete their survey mission. On December 31,
Embassy Kuwait CDA met with MFA U/S Al-Jarallah for follow-on
discussions about this request. While supportive, the U/S
told CDA that the issue had been referred to the MOI (Reftel
B).

Not About Disputed Waters
--------------


5. (C) Although the Captain believed he was in Iraqi waters
at the time of the incident, his stated geographical position
appears to be in disputed waters between Kuwait and Iraq. For
the purpose of this wreckage survey, however, it is not
necessary or desirable for the U.S. to be drawn into the
territorial dispute.

Delay Costs
--------------


6. (C) Estimated delay cost is about $100,000 per day or--to
date--about $2 million. For the entire survey operation,
MNF-I allocated $4 million from the Commander's Emergency
Response Program (CERP),i.e. delay costs alone have now
consumed over half of this allocation and further delays
threaten to deplete the remaining funds.

Action Request
--------------


7. (C) In support of Embassy Kuwait's efforts to resolve this
issue, Post requests the Department bring this issue to the
attention of the Kuwaiti Ambassador in Washington at the
earliest opportunity in order to reiterate to the GOK the
importance of obtaining a response to the U.S. diplomatic
note delivered on December 26 and the subsequent request made
by CDA on December 31 to permit the survey ship to return to
the survey site. The following points are provided for use.

(BEGIN POINTS)
--------------

- We want to bring to your attention an important matter
regarding a survey ship that was conducting surveying
operations in the Khawr Abd Allah (KAA) waterway December 18
but was intercepted by Kuwaiti Naval and Air Forces, which
ordered the ship out of the area.

BAGHDAD 00000050 002 OF 002



- The survey ship was contracted by the USG for the purpose
of surveying two submerged wrecks in the KAA for subsequent
removal.

- These submerged wrecks pose a significant navigational
hazard to the ships of all nations--including Kuwait--that
traverse the KAA.

- Unimpeded access to Umm Qasr will provide expanded trade
opportunities and economic benefits for the entire region.

- The USG requests GOK concurrence to proceed back to this
site to retrieve equipment (primarily anchors and cables)
left during the departure on December 18 and allow the
vessels to complete their survey mission without interference.

- Our survey mission is transparent; we are prepared to
remain in close contact with the GOK during the remainder of
the mission, including hosting Kuwaiti observers.

- The USG requests GOK support for the overall mission of
removing these wrecked ships, which will benefit all maritime
vessels.

If raised:

- Although there may have been some initial confusion by the
GOK on December 18 about the purpose and identity of the two
survey vessels in the KAA, subsequent discussions between
U.S. Embassy Kuwait and GOK have made it clear these are
USG-contracted vessels.
CROCKER