Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SANAA1890
2008-11-24 14:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sanaa
Cable title:
PORT OF ADEN'S DEVELOPMENT SQUEEZED BY SECURITY
how-toR 241418Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY SANAA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0672 INFO SOMALIA COLLECTIVE AMEMBASSY LONDON USEU BRUSSELS SECNAV WASHINGTON DC SECDEF WASHINGTON DC COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC CJTF HOA NAVCENTMETOCCEN BAHRAIN
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001890
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP:AMACDONALD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2018
TAGS: ETRD EWWT PBTS YM
SUBJECT: PORT OF ADEN'S DEVELOPMENT SQUEEZED BY SECURITY
AND PIRACY
REF: SANAA 1840
Classified By: Ambassador Stephen Seche for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001890
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP:AMACDONALD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2018
TAGS: ETRD EWWT PBTS YM
SUBJECT: PORT OF ADEN'S DEVELOPMENT SQUEEZED BY SECURITY
AND PIRACY
REF: SANAA 1840
Classified By: Ambassador Stephen Seche for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY. The port of Aden struggles to regain its
stature as an essential regional hub in the midst of new
management and ongoing security threats. Although the strike
against new Aden Container Terminal manager Dubai Ports World
appears to have been resolved, endemic corruption still
affects all business, and security concerns limit passenger
traffic into the port. Piracy attacks in the region threaten
to halt port development even more and lax security at the
ports emphasizes the need to firm up Yemeni border controls.
END SUMMARY.
PORT OPERATIONS
--------------
2. (U) Commercial operations have returned to normal at Aden
Container Terminal (ACT) after Dubai Ports World (DPW) gave
striking employees an ultimatum to return to work by noon on
November 17. The port was operating normally when toured by
Poloff on November 18. ACT employees were unhappy with the
conditions of DPW's employment contract, but threats by the
company to bring in third-party replacement workers brought
most employees back to work prior to the deadline.
3. (C) Corruption and security issues continue to threaten
port development. According to Nigel Chevroit, Group
Shipping Manager for Hodeidah Shipping and Transport Company,
corruption interferes with all aspects of business at the
port. Describing corruption as "appalling", Chevroit told
Emboff that to do business he must pay-off the harbor master,
ports authority, customs, and the Yemeni Coast Guard.
(Comment. The Yemeni Coast Guard is generally regarded as
less corrupt and more transparent than most governmental
agencies due to its reliance on and desire to continue to
receive British and American assistance. End comment.) When
pushed, however, Chevroit conceded that the pay-offs are more
of an annoyance and not enough to disrupt business.
4. (C) Passenger traffic in the port of Aden is unlikely to
dramatically increase, despite calls from Yemeni officials to
bring back the tourists (see reftel). Port Development
Adviser for the Port of Aden Roy Facey told Poloff that there
are approximately 15 passenger ships a year that disembark in
Aden and security is "rudimentary" at the passenger terminal.
Passengers walk directly through the terminal, and more
consideration is given to welcoming the visitors than to
safety and security. Chevroit said that he often gets word
from the cruise liners after departing the port that
"everything went ok, but we did not feel secure." Chevroit
also noted that security at the container terminal entrance
is lax.
PIRACY PRESSURE
--------------
5. (C) During a November 18 meeting, Aden's Governor Adnan
al-Jefri said that piracy was too big a problem for Yemen to
handle alone and Yemen needed help from the international
community. (Note: Governor al-Jefri stated that he was
unaware of the Yemeni Foreign Minister's public concern about
the presence of Western warships in the Gulf of Aden. End
note.) In a similar note, Yemen Coast Guard (YCG) Commander
in Aden, Colonel Lutf al-Baraty, told Poloff that he is
unable to stop even a small amount of the illegal smuggling
from Somalia, let alone go after pirates in deeper waters.
Meanwhile, commercial ships are traveling closer into Yemeni
territorial waters for protection by the YCG. On November 17
the YCG released a memorandum warning commercial ships not to
fire upon suspected pirates. The YCG had received several
reports of genuine Yemeni fishing boats being fired upon by
commercial vessels that misconstrue them as pirates.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) A viable port is essential to Aden's development,
but, at least in the near future, the governorate's growth
will continue to be squeezed by security concerns from
ongoing piracy in the Gulf of Aden, especially if insurance
premiums continue to rise and make business through the
passageway unviable. Perceived lax security at the passenger
and container terminals underline the importance of
supporting border control initiatives in Yemen. END COMMENT.
SECHE
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP:AMACDONALD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2018
TAGS: ETRD EWWT PBTS YM
SUBJECT: PORT OF ADEN'S DEVELOPMENT SQUEEZED BY SECURITY
AND PIRACY
REF: SANAA 1840
Classified By: Ambassador Stephen Seche for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY. The port of Aden struggles to regain its
stature as an essential regional hub in the midst of new
management and ongoing security threats. Although the strike
against new Aden Container Terminal manager Dubai Ports World
appears to have been resolved, endemic corruption still
affects all business, and security concerns limit passenger
traffic into the port. Piracy attacks in the region threaten
to halt port development even more and lax security at the
ports emphasizes the need to firm up Yemeni border controls.
END SUMMARY.
PORT OPERATIONS
--------------
2. (U) Commercial operations have returned to normal at Aden
Container Terminal (ACT) after Dubai Ports World (DPW) gave
striking employees an ultimatum to return to work by noon on
November 17. The port was operating normally when toured by
Poloff on November 18. ACT employees were unhappy with the
conditions of DPW's employment contract, but threats by the
company to bring in third-party replacement workers brought
most employees back to work prior to the deadline.
3. (C) Corruption and security issues continue to threaten
port development. According to Nigel Chevroit, Group
Shipping Manager for Hodeidah Shipping and Transport Company,
corruption interferes with all aspects of business at the
port. Describing corruption as "appalling", Chevroit told
Emboff that to do business he must pay-off the harbor master,
ports authority, customs, and the Yemeni Coast Guard.
(Comment. The Yemeni Coast Guard is generally regarded as
less corrupt and more transparent than most governmental
agencies due to its reliance on and desire to continue to
receive British and American assistance. End comment.) When
pushed, however, Chevroit conceded that the pay-offs are more
of an annoyance and not enough to disrupt business.
4. (C) Passenger traffic in the port of Aden is unlikely to
dramatically increase, despite calls from Yemeni officials to
bring back the tourists (see reftel). Port Development
Adviser for the Port of Aden Roy Facey told Poloff that there
are approximately 15 passenger ships a year that disembark in
Aden and security is "rudimentary" at the passenger terminal.
Passengers walk directly through the terminal, and more
consideration is given to welcoming the visitors than to
safety and security. Chevroit said that he often gets word
from the cruise liners after departing the port that
"everything went ok, but we did not feel secure." Chevroit
also noted that security at the container terminal entrance
is lax.
PIRACY PRESSURE
--------------
5. (C) During a November 18 meeting, Aden's Governor Adnan
al-Jefri said that piracy was too big a problem for Yemen to
handle alone and Yemen needed help from the international
community. (Note: Governor al-Jefri stated that he was
unaware of the Yemeni Foreign Minister's public concern about
the presence of Western warships in the Gulf of Aden. End
note.) In a similar note, Yemen Coast Guard (YCG) Commander
in Aden, Colonel Lutf al-Baraty, told Poloff that he is
unable to stop even a small amount of the illegal smuggling
from Somalia, let alone go after pirates in deeper waters.
Meanwhile, commercial ships are traveling closer into Yemeni
territorial waters for protection by the YCG. On November 17
the YCG released a memorandum warning commercial ships not to
fire upon suspected pirates. The YCG had received several
reports of genuine Yemeni fishing boats being fired upon by
commercial vessels that misconstrue them as pirates.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) A viable port is essential to Aden's development,
but, at least in the near future, the governorate's growth
will continue to be squeezed by security concerns from
ongoing piracy in the Gulf of Aden, especially if insurance
premiums continue to rise and make business through the
passageway unviable. Perceived lax security at the passenger
and container terminals underline the importance of
supporting border control initiatives in Yemen. END COMMENT.
SECHE