Thai Port of Laem Chabang and GMP

UNCLAS BANGKOK 001733 EEB/TRA/OTP for Doris Haywood PM/ISO for Jeff Frederick OSD for David Gruber SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT EAID ECIN ECON EFIS MARR MASS MCAP MOPS PHSA PINS, PREL, SMIG, SENV, SNAR, ASEC, XX SUBJECT: Thai Port of Laem Chabang and GMP REF: STATE 50488 ¶1. This is an action request (see paragraph 4). ¶2. In discussing reftel talking points with Thai maritime stakeholders, the idea for a joint maritime security best-practices seminar between the Thai Port of Laem Chabang and the Port of Singapore was raised in the context of the Global Maritime Partnership (GMP) initiative. A delegation of approximately twenty officials including Port of Laem Chabang leadership plus other regional and national-level stakeholders, and four U.S. security experts who have been coaching Port Laem Chabang leaders for the last four years (through the U.S. National Guard State Partnership Program) would travel to Singapore to learn from their counterparts best practices regarding emergency response, terrorist attack response, hazmat (including chemical and radiological) incident response, EOD, and mass casualty incident response. ¶3. The idea would fit into the goals of GMP by further enabling a regional partnership as much of the U.S.-bound cargo shipped from Laem Chabang transits through Singapore. Post estimates the total cost to be USD 58,000, which would include travel from Laem Chabang to Singapore for twenty people, lodging, two days of seminar expenses, and the cost of bringing four security experts from the U.S. on or about September 16, 2008. ¶4. Post seeks Washington guidance on this proposal and on availability of funds under the auspices of GMP to coordinate and facilitate the training seminar between the Thai and Singapore port officials. Post POC is Lt. Col. Scott Elder, selder@san.osd.mil. John