US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT932

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000932 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI (TROBERTS), NP/ECC (TGROEN) 
AMMAN FOR J. IRVINE 
ROTTERDAM FOR M. BEE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM, ETTC, EWWT, KSTC, ETRD, MU, Ports, Export Control and Border Security 
SUBJECT: U.S. COAST GUARD ENGAGES OMANI GOVERNMENT ON ISPS 
COMPLIANCE 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (U) A representative of the United States Coast Guard 
(USCG) International Port Security Program initiated a 
dialogue with the government of Oman on efforts to comply 
with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code. 
The visit revealed important developments in Omani maritime 
security, including the government's desire to create a 
unified command center and authority for maritime security, 
an upgrade of closed-circuit televisions for ports Salalah 
and Sultan Qaboos, and developing a coastal surveillance 
network with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) and 
radar detection.  The Ministry of Transportation and 
Communications has also signed a $9 million contract to 
purchase five container scanners for placement at critical 
border crossings with Yemen and the United Arab Emirates. 
End Summary. 
 
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OMAN ISPS COMPLIANCE 
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3. (U) Lieutenant Commander Mike Bee, the U.S. Coast Guard's 
Regional Liaison Officer (RLO) for International Ship and 
Port Security (ISPS) Code compliance, conducted an 
orientation visit to Oman May 29-June 1, 2005 to learn about 
the Sultanate's ISPS Code implementation, promote bilateral 
cooperation, and exchange ideas and best practices in 
maritime security.  LCDR Bee met with key government and 
industry officials responsible for ISPS implementation and 
gained an initial insight into Oman's approach to ISPS and 
maritime security challenges. 
 
4. (SBU) Prior to Oman's ratification of the ISPS Code, the 
Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MTC) 
contracted U.K.-based security specialist Hudson-Trident to 
perform port facility security assessments and draft security 
plans for each of Oman's eight international trade port 
facilities.  Port facility security plans were approved for 
all ports by May 30, 2004, and were immediately followed by 
Oman's official ratification of the ISPS code on June 12, 
2004 (Royal Decree 63/2004). 
 
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ISPS ORGANIZATION 
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5. (U) In meetings with the Ministry of Transportation and 
Communications, lead Omani ISPS coordinator Mohamed bin Aziz 
al-Abdisalam, Director of Maritime Affairs, provided a brief 
synopsis of Hudson-Trident's recommendations and the overall 
ISPS organization and plans for implementation in Oman. 
 
6. (SBU) Although general maritime security currently falls 
under the supervision of the MTC, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) 
is the primary operational agency, with the ROP Coast Guard 
providing land and waterside security inside port boundaries 
and up to 12 nautical miles out to sea. 
 
7. (SBU) In a technical oversight committee currently chaired 
by the Director of Maritime Affairs, representatives from the 
ROP Coast Guard and Customs, the Ministry of Defense, 
relevant port authorities, and the MTC meet regularly to 
discuss ISPS implementation at each of Oman's international 
trade ports. 
 
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MARITIME SECURITY DEVELOPMENTS 
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8. (SBU) At Port Sultan Qaboos (Muscat), LCDR Bee met with 
ROP Coast Guard Commander Colonel Ali Saleh al-Balushi, 
Deputy Commander Lieutenant Colonel Badr al-Zadjali, and Port 
Sultan Qaboos Executive President Saud al-Nahari.  The 
officials welcomed the opportunity to discuss ISPS 
implementation at Omani ports and shared information on 
planned developments in maritime security. 
 
Physical Security Upgrades 
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9. (SBU) Although ports Sultan Qaboos and Salalah both meet 
the government of Oman's threshold for ISPS compliance, 
officials at the MTC confirmed that fencing around restricted 
access areas, construction of new controlled-access gates, 
and installation of closed-circuit televisions are underway. 
Al-Nahari also said that in light of Muscat's growing 
popularity as a tourist destination for passenger ships, 
construction will begin on a 6th berth for a separate 
passenger cruise terminal at Port Sultan Qaboos.  (Note: Oman 
received the world's largest passenger ship, the Queen 
Elizabeth II, earlier this year, and boasted hosting almost 
10,000 ship-to-shore passengers in 2004.  End Note.) 
 
Organization 
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10. (SBU) The ISPS implementation committee, spurred by 
Hudson-Trident's recommendation, has sent two progressive 
policy and program recommendations to the Sultan for 
consideration and funding.  One recommendation includes 
creating a unified command center and authority for a 
maritime security agency that would report directly to the 
Sultan and would incorporate the activities of the ROP Coast 
Guard, Maritime Affairs, and Navy.  The other recommendation 
is to develop a coastal surveillance network with an 
Automatic Identification System (AIS) and radar detection to 
create a more complete offshore maritime picture, ultimately 
requiring small fishing vessels and dhows to carry a location 
transponder onboard.  Although both recommendations are under 
consideration, officials at the MTC believe it is only a 
matter of time before the recommendations come into effect. 
 
11. (SBU) In additional efforts to enhance security and 
protection along Oman's lengthy borders, the Ministry of 
Transportation and Communications recently signed a $9 
million contract to purchase five container scanners. 
According to one official at the MTC, the scanners will be 
placed along critical border-crossings with Yemen and the 
United Arab Emirates, as well as at Port Sultan Qaboos.  A 
planned second-phase expansion is expected to place scanners 
at the import/export gates at Ports Salalah and Sohar. 
 
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COMMENT 
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12. (SBU) LCDR Bee was impressed with the government's 
systematic and thorough approach to ISPS implementation. 
However, although the ports appear to have good security 
practices in place, and present a low risk to U.S. maritime 
security, LCDR Bee proposed a follow-up visit in the fall to 
monitor physical security upgrades underway at Port Sultan 
Qaboos, as well as to visit the burgeoning Port Sohar. 
 
13. (U) LCDR Bee cleared this cable. 
BALTIMORE