PANAMA A NATURAL FIT FOR THE GLOBAL MARITIME PARTNERSHIP

UNCLAS PANAMA 000490

SIPDIS

EEB/TRA/OTP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC ECON EFIS EWWT MARR MASS MCAPMOPS
PHSA, PINS, PREL, SENV, SMIG, SNAR, PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA A NATURAL FIT FOR THE GLOBAL MARITIME
PARTNERSHIP

REF: STATE 50488

This message is Sensitive But Unclassified. Please handle
accordingly.


1. (U) Summary. Panama represents a natural fit for the
Global Maritime Partnership (GMP). Our engagement with
Panama on maritime issues is broad and deep. Officially, the
Panama Maritime Authority is supportive of the Global
Maritime Partnership. Panama and the United States already
cooperate on a range of projects, such as PANAMAX military
exercises and U.S. naval humanitarian assistance efforts.
Panama potentially will expand cooperation to include
participation in the Maritime Security and Safety Information
System (MSSIS),support for NAVSOUTH's Maritime Liaison Unit
for Latin America (MARLU-LATAM),and collaboration on digital
ID cards for merchant mariners. End Summary.


2. (U) Econoff and Naval Attach briefed Carlos Moreno,
Deputy Administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP),
of the Global Maritime Partnership (GMP) on June 3. Moreno
was extremely receptive to GMP principles and further
cooperation. Post will also track the maritime industry's
reaction to the level of cooperation between the GOP and USG.
End summary.

GMP PROJECTS RIPE FOR IMPLEMENTATION
--------------


3. (SBU) The following proposals were presented to Moreno and
he was "extremely interested" in both.

A) Maritime Security and Safety Information System (MSSIS):
The Commander of NAVSOUTH has been promoting MSSIS to various
countries in the Latin American region. Moreno was
enthusiastic about the MSSIS concept, since Panama would gain
worldwide, near-real-time visibility of merchant ship
operations, to include the 7,000-plus merchant vessels of
Panamanian registry. Moreno also keyed in on the fact that
MSSIS is already in operation and is relatively inexpensive
to implement. Moreno then pointed out that the International
Maritime Organization's LRIT (Long Range Identification and
Tracking) system was behind schedule and expensive. Moreno
instructed his staff to work with the Naval Attache on
producing a proposal for the AMP Administrator.

B) Maritime Liaison Unit - Latin America (MARLU-LATAM):
MARLU-LATAM is subordinate to the Commander of NAVSOUTH (the
naval component of SOUTHCOM),and is charged with
establishing close working relationships between the U.S.
Navy and commercial maritime entities throughout Latin
America. AMEMBASSY PANAMA continues to support MARLU-LATAM
as it develops close ties with Panama's diverse maritime
industry. During MARLU-LATAM's visits in March and June
2008, DAO Panama facilitated access to a wide range of
maritime industry contacts. MARLU-LATAM will return in
August 2008 for follow-up talks regarding a wide-range of
GMP-related topics. After listening to a brief presentation
about MARLU-LATAM, Moreno offered his support, and stated
that such a project was "long overdue."

C) Moreno highlighted a current AMP initiative to provide
digital ID cards with biometrics to the approximately 300,000
merchant marine sailors whose licenses originate in Panama.
Moreno was receptive to the idea of collaboration with the
U.S., since the U.S. Coast Guard is implementing the TWIX
(Transit Workers Identification) card program.


CURRENT GMP-RELATED PROJECTS
--------------


4. (SBU) Panama already is currently participating in several
GMP-related activities, such as:

A) Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX: PANAMAX is an annual
joint/combined exercise co-hosted by Panama and USSOUTHCOM.

It is USSOUTHCOM's premier exercise and security cooperation
event aimed at enhancing the capabilities of partner nations
to conduct multinational operations. PANAMAX draws military
participants and observers from over 20 countries and will be
held 11-22 Aug 2008.

B) Humanitarian Assistance: Following the example of last
year's successful deployment of the hospital ship USNS
Comfort, USSOUTHCOM is deploying the USS KEARSARGE to Panama
to provide humanitarian assistance, including medical
services and engineering projects, at five locations in the
Comarca of Kuna Yala. AMEMBASSY PANAMA personnel will deploy
to the Comarca of Kuna Yala to support this security
cooperation event 16-30 Sep 2008.

C) Port Security: GOP and USG customs agencies signed a
declaration of principles for the Container Security
Initiative (CSI). CSI has provided the GOP with x-ray
equipment and funds for maintenance. The DoE's MegaPorts
Initiative is following CSI in the installation of
sophisticated radiological detection equipment to identify
nuclear material.

COMMENT: PANAMA WELL-SUITED FOR GMP
--------------


5. (SBU) Panama represents a natural fit for the GMP, as our
engagement with Panama on maritime issues is broad and deep.
With the Panama Canal, which has embarked on a $5.25
expansion project, a booming ports and maritime services
industry, some 7,000 Panamanian flagged vessels sailing the
seas, and a registry of more than 300,000 seafarers, the GOP
and the maritime industry are keenly interested in virtually
all aspects of GMP activities. However, until the GMP takes
further shape, Post does not expect that Panama would take a
proactive role in initiating specific GMP activities.
EATON