Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MUSCAT1073
2009-12-09 14:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:
OMAN ON SFI/MEGAPORTS PILOT IN SALALAH
how-toVZCZCXRO1411 RR RUEHDE DE RUEHMS #1073 3431408 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 091402Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1030 INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 0013 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 0002 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0002 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0050 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0047 RUEHTG/AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA 0002 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0002
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 001073
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/09
TAGS: ETRD EWWT PREL KNNP MU
SUBJECT: OMAN ON SFI/MEGAPORTS PILOT IN SALALAH
REF: MUSCAT 875
CLASSIFIED BY: L. Victor Hurtado, Ambassador, Department of State,
Embassy Muscat; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 001073
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/09
TAGS: ETRD EWWT PREL KNNP MU
SUBJECT: OMAN ON SFI/MEGAPORTS PILOT IN SALALAH
REF: MUSCAT 875
CLASSIFIED BY: L. Victor Hurtado, Ambassador, Department of State,
Embassy Muscat; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) On December 8, officials from the Government of Oman, the
Port of Salalah and the USG met and discussed a six-month plan of
operational testing for Megaports equipment in Salalah. In a
meeting with H.E. Said Hamdoon al-Harthy, Undersecretary for Ports
at the Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC),
Brigadier General Issa al-Kiyumi, Royal Oman Police (ROP) Director
General of Customs, LtCol Naji al-Abri, ROP Customs, CEO Martijn
Van de linde, Port of Salalah, Deputy CEO Ahmed Ali Akaak, Port of
Salalah, DC based US Department of Energy and DHS/Customs and
Border Protection officials, DCM and poloff, the USG presented a
plan that had been developed and agreed to prior to the meeting by
the USG and the port; Omani officials committed to reviewing the
details quickly and reporting back any concerns.
2. (C) This meeting was a follow-up to the port CEO's request that
we have a high-level meeting to assess buy-in, particularly of the
Omani government, prior to the beginning of the project (reftel).
All parties concurred that trial period was necessary as additional
information and data is required about the operational impact of
scanning at a transshipment port in order to make further decisions
about the future of the project. It was agreed to meet again with
this group at the end of the project to discuss a way forward.
Al-Harthy was concerned about the potential exposure of port
employees to radiation, and it was agreed that Omani officials
would certify the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) Rapiscan
equipment for safety after the completion of an upgrade that is in
process. After the formal meeting was over, the DG of Customs
expressed to POLOFF his ongoing concern about his lack of
appropriate levels of staffing to support the project.
3. (C) Comment: Although to date most of our work on Megaports and
SFI has gone through ROP Customs, Van de linde specifically
insisted that the Undersecretary from MOTC be in the meeting, as
ultimately the port is responsible to MOTC, not to ROP Customs.
Although this meeting was harmonious, we anticipate the meeting at
the end of the project to be more contentious. While the CEO has
agreed to the trial, he does not want the Megaports equipment to
remain at the port after that time, and in some fashion it is
possible MOTC will support his view. However, ROP Customs will
likely want to continue the project. The Omanis continue to
express concerns about the safety of radiation in every meeting on
this topic. End Comment.
Schmierer
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/09
TAGS: ETRD EWWT PREL KNNP MU
SUBJECT: OMAN ON SFI/MEGAPORTS PILOT IN SALALAH
REF: MUSCAT 875
CLASSIFIED BY: L. Victor Hurtado, Ambassador, Department of State,
Embassy Muscat; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) On December 8, officials from the Government of Oman, the
Port of Salalah and the USG met and discussed a six-month plan of
operational testing for Megaports equipment in Salalah. In a
meeting with H.E. Said Hamdoon al-Harthy, Undersecretary for Ports
at the Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC),
Brigadier General Issa al-Kiyumi, Royal Oman Police (ROP) Director
General of Customs, LtCol Naji al-Abri, ROP Customs, CEO Martijn
Van de linde, Port of Salalah, Deputy CEO Ahmed Ali Akaak, Port of
Salalah, DC based US Department of Energy and DHS/Customs and
Border Protection officials, DCM and poloff, the USG presented a
plan that had been developed and agreed to prior to the meeting by
the USG and the port; Omani officials committed to reviewing the
details quickly and reporting back any concerns.
2. (C) This meeting was a follow-up to the port CEO's request that
we have a high-level meeting to assess buy-in, particularly of the
Omani government, prior to the beginning of the project (reftel).
All parties concurred that trial period was necessary as additional
information and data is required about the operational impact of
scanning at a transshipment port in order to make further decisions
about the future of the project. It was agreed to meet again with
this group at the end of the project to discuss a way forward.
Al-Harthy was concerned about the potential exposure of port
employees to radiation, and it was agreed that Omani officials
would certify the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) Rapiscan
equipment for safety after the completion of an upgrade that is in
process. After the formal meeting was over, the DG of Customs
expressed to POLOFF his ongoing concern about his lack of
appropriate levels of staffing to support the project.
3. (C) Comment: Although to date most of our work on Megaports and
SFI has gone through ROP Customs, Van de linde specifically
insisted that the Undersecretary from MOTC be in the meeting, as
ultimately the port is responsible to MOTC, not to ROP Customs.
Although this meeting was harmonious, we anticipate the meeting at
the end of the project to be more contentious. While the CEO has
agreed to the trial, he does not want the Megaports equipment to
remain at the port after that time, and in some fashion it is
possible MOTC will support his view. However, ROP Customs will
likely want to continue the project. The Omanis continue to
express concerns about the safety of radiation in every meeting on
this topic. End Comment.
Schmierer