US embassy cable - 05PARIS15

UNCLAS PARIS 000015 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EB/TPP/OTP-SMILLER, EUR/WE-SBALL, JLEVIN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EWWT, FR, IMO 
SUBJECT: FRENCH NOTIFICATION OF MARITIME INFRACTION BY U.S. 
VESSEL 
 
 
1.  (U) The French Foreign Ministry has provided the Embassy 
with a report filed by the GOF's Maritime Affairs 
Administrator alleging an infraction of international 
maritime traffic rules by the U.S.-flagged merchant vessel 
"Ascencion" on August 15, 2004 off the coast of France in the 
English Channel.  An informal translation of the diplomatic 
note accompanying the report is in para 2.  Embassy has 
mailed the hardcopy original of the report and supporting 
documentation provided by the Foreign Ministry to State - 
EB/TPP/OTP and requests it handle the report as necessary. 
 
2.  (U) BEGIN INFORMAL TRANSLATION OF DIPLOMATIC NOTE: 
 
Ministry of Foreign Affaires 
French Republic 
No 2864/DE/ETI 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its compliments to 
the Embassy of the United States of America and has the honor 
to transmit the attached report of an infraction involving a 
American-flagged ship that was caught in violation of 
international rules of maritime traffic. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be grateful to the 
Embassy of the United States of America if it would transmit 
these documents to the relevant authorities and keep it 
informed of the eventual action taken as a result of this 
notification. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes this opportunity to 
renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the 
assurances of its highest consideration. 
 
Paris December 1, 2004 
 
Attachment:  Report of violation (vessel "Ascencion") 
 
END INFORMAL TRANSLATION" 
Wolff