US embassy cable - 05AMMAN982

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 000982 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NP/ECC - P. VAN SON 
STATE ALSO PASS TO US COAST GUARD 
DHS FOR CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2015 
TAGS: EWWT, ETRD, ETTC, PARM, KSTC, PREL, JO 
SUBJECT: AQABA PORT ISPS SECURITY PLAN 
 
REF: A. 04 STATE 219111 (NOTAL) 
     B. 04 STATE 200534 (NOTAL) 
     C. 04 STATE 160115 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David Hale.  Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  The Aqaba port authorities are working 
hard to comply with the International Maritime Organization's 
(IMO) International Ship and Port Facility Security Plan 
(ISPS), which took effect last July 1 (Ref C).  A strong 
management team from the Aqaba Special Economic Zone 
Authority (ASEZA) is working with a private consulting firm 
to implement the ISPS in phases over the next few years. 
However, the Aqaba Ports Corporation and the newly formed 
Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) that oversees the 
physical port infrastructure face stiff challenges ahead and 
will likely need technical assistance, including in areas of 
port security vulnerability assessment and marine-side 
security of the port.  The semi-autonomous authorities in 
Aqaba are committed to meeting basic ISPS security benchmarks 
by the next IMO deadline of June 30 and hope in the long run 
to implement a security plan consistent with Aqaba's desire 
to be a world-class port facility.  END SUMMARY. 
 
ISPS and Port Facility Security 
------------------------------- 
 
2.  (C)  Emboffs visited Aqaba port in November and again in 
a follow-up visit January 27, specifically to review the ISPS 
in light of Jordan's commitment to an Export Controls and 
Related Border Security (EXBS) program.  In a meeting with 
Econoff and TDY EXBS advisor January 27, the Director General 
of the Jordan Maritime Authority said that a committee under 
his chairmanship was monitoring ISPS implementation from a 
government regulatory point of view and would continue to 
work with the IMO and the Ministry of Transportation.  For 
the day-to-day implementation of security, JMA is responsible 
for security/safety inspection of Jordanian-registered ships 
and those ships entering port that have not had a routinely 
scheduled inspection.  To date, these ships have presented no 
serious problems, the JMA team noted,or have come up to 
compliance when minor infractions were noted. 
 
3. (C)  The Ports Corporation has responsibility for 
implementing the Port Facility Security Plan under the ISPS. 
However, as ownership of the Aqaba Port has just been 
transferred to the newly designated umbrella Aqaba 
Development Corporation (ADC), it has been ADC's task to 
implement the ISPS security plan across three areas (main, 
container, and industrial ports) stretching along some 18 
kilometers of coastline, with interspersed smaller facilities 
such as rice stores and a bulk cement berth.  The security 
plan -- covering access control, perimeter monitoring, 
emergency responses -- is now being studied by consulting 
company Hudson Trident Marine to determine what hardware and 
human resources are required on a sequenced timeline.  We 
heard that a force of 100 guards will handle overall port 
security, answering to a single coordinated command.  This is 
in addition to the extensive police, military and 
intelligence presence in Aqaba, all of whom work closely with 
Israeli authorities in the neighboring, smaller port of Eilat. 
 
4.  (U)  ADC has commissioned Bearing Point to follow up with 
its overall port development plan and they are working 
closely on ISPS implementation with security consultant 
Hudson Trident Marine. 
 
ISPS Plan on Track 
------------------ 
 
5.  (C)  Hudson Trident is scheduled to finish in late 
February its detailed ISPS implementation plan, including 
ready-to-go tenders for security infrastructure and hardware 
-- from fencing to high-tech sensors.  In the meantime, 
according to Bearing Point project manager Arun Aggarwal, the 
ADC has every intention of meeting, if not exceeding, the 
basic security requirements of the ISPS by the first 12-month 
deadline this coming June 30.  Aggarwal is quick to note that 
the undertaking is complex and said  technical assistance 
would be greatly appreciated. 
6.  (C)  COMMENT:  ADC's ongoing development plan is in 
addition to other GOJ proposals to expand the port (Ref A). 
Aqaba Port is a strategic supply point for Iraq and the 
coalition forces.  Jordanian officials do not underestimate 
the port's potential as a target for terrorists.  At the same 
time, the port's rapid development, just after a difficult 
time of serious congestion, has put strains on all aspects of 
management.  The Customs side of the operation -- which 
benefited from DHS-supported EXBS Seaport Interdiction 
training last July -- is in good basic working order, though 
at Customs, too, there is room for improvement.  However, 
Jordan has a long to-do list to meet ISPS requirements.  It 
would appear that ADC and the Aqaba Ports Corporation are on 
track to meet the ISPS benchmarks, but technical assistance 
in areas such as port vulnerability assessment or marine-side 
security (through the U.S. Coast Guard) or other help already 
discussed as possible (Ref B) would be welcome and timely. 
 
7.  (U)  Baghdad minimize considered. 
HALE