ISPS CODE: TANZANIA COMPLIANT BUT NEEDS FOLLOW-UP

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000473 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT AF/E FOR JLIDDLE LONDON FOR IMO LIAISON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT ECON ETRD KHLS PTER PREL TZ SUBJECT: ISPS CODE: TANZANIA COMPLIANT BUT NEEDS FOLLOW-UP REF: A: STATE 1057, B: DAR ES SALAAM 122 ¶1. Visiting Coast Guard (CG) International Port Security Program Inspectors will recommend that Tanzania be considered compliant with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. The GOT has responded to most of the recommendations (reftels) arising from previous inspections, although work remains to ensure the sustainability of the corrective measures. In the final report, to be issued within several weeks, the CG team will recommend follow-up visits to confirm Tanzania completes the efforts in process and maintains all of its security measures. ¶2. During a July 13-17 visit, the CG team inspected the ports of Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar (Malindi) and Tanga. GOT and Zanzibar officials were cooperative throughout, as were officials of the privately operated container facility in Dar es Salaam. The Director General of the Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA), the regulator for the mainland ports, welcomed the team's recommendations and promised continued attention to port security issues. ¶3. The CG team advised Poloff that Tanzania's ports had improved greatly since previous inspections in 2007 and 2008. The team had concerns about sustainability, particularly in Zanzibar. The team will recommend a return visit in late 2009, in part to inspect the Mtwara port, the only one of the ISPS facilities not visited on this trip. While for most countries found compliant with the ISPS Code the CG conducts inspections every two years, an annual inspection of Tanzania would be an incentive for the GOT to maintain recent efforts. ¶4. Embassy appreciates Coast Guard support to Tanzania's efforts to bring its ports into ISPS Code compliance. ANDRE