US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1039

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001039 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2015 
TAGS: EWWT, ECON, PREL, PTER, PINS, CG 
SUBJECT: DRC ATTEMPTS TO KEEP PORTS AFLOAT 
 
REF: A. 04 KINSHASA 1251 
     B. KINSHASA 315 
 
Classified By: Econoff Wendy Brafman, for Reasons 1.4 b/d. 
 
1. (U) Summary: The GDRC is increasing its efforts to bring 
its maritime ports into compliance with international 
security standards in response to U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) 
sanctions that became effective May 23.  The USCG now 
requires inspection of all ships that enter U.S. ports within 
five ports of call of the DRC. The DRC and the International 
Maritime Organization (IMO) claim that the DRC ports are now 
generally in compliance but for minor administrative 
measures, but the USCG must inspect the ports before 
sanctions can be withdrawn. Further, ONATRA (the DRC's port 
authority) needs additional funds to complete a second 
required round of security upgrades. Communication problems, 
insufficient training and lack of equipment are obstacles to 
full implementation of required security measures. Post is 
encouraging the USCG to visit the DRC's ports to verify 
compliance status and give technical advice. End Summary. 
 
COAST GUARD ISSUED SANCTIONS 
---------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) In mid-May, Post informed the Ministry of Transport 
and ONATRA of the USCG's restrictions on ships entering the 
U.S. May 23 or later, pursuant to USCG Security Advisory 
(1-05). Over the past year, the DRC has worked with post, 
ONATRA, its parent Ministry of Transport, the USCG and the 
IMO to comply with the International Ship and Port Facility 
Security Code (ISPS) (see reftel A). The USCG requires that 
the DRC report ISPS code implementation to the IMO to confirm 
that it has enacted anti-terrorism measures, and the USCG 
must inspect the ports to confirm compliance. The DRC failed 
to comply in a timely manner with the requirements. Hence, 
before port entry, the USCG must now inspect all ships that 
have visited any DRC port within five ports. The American 
company Seabord/Midema told Econoff that additional security 
will cost it $1500 per day per ship, plus the cost of delay 
during pre-entry inspection. Econoff has advised the GDRC 
that, if it does not achieve compliance within six months, 
the USCG will completely prohibit the entry of ships that 
have visited any DRC port within five ports. 
 
DRC SAYS IT IS NEARLY IN COMPLIANCE 
--------------------------------------- 
 
3. (U) IMO and the DRC now state that the ports' currently 
required compliance is complete but for administrative 
details. However, the USCG has not yet suspended its 
determination, because it does not have the necessary 
confirmation from IMO. Econoff discussed the status of 
compliance with IMO and DRC officials, including the DRC's 
Director of Maritime Security, representatives from the 
national police, customs and immigrations services, all 
security officers from all ISPS-registered ports, and the 
Bas-Congo provincial Vice Governor for Finance and Economy, 
during Emboffs' visit to the Port of Matadi June 2-3. There 
is visible progress in Matadi, the DRC's primary port; ONATRA 
has installed access gates and appears to control strictly 
the access into the primary security zone. Further, the IMO 
says that the DRC's IMO representative has informed the 
Washington, D.C.-based USCG representative of compliance 
status. 
 
4. (C) However, as of early June, the DRC had not submitted 
port facility security plans for four of eight ports; the DRC 
can withdraw these as designated international ports, 
however. Further, an experienced Midema ship captain in 
Matadi told Econoff that, although physical security 
improvements have resulted in the exclusion of unapproved 
persons at port and shipboard, port officials do not conduct 
thorough security and health inspections, due to inadequate 
training and lack of adequate communication. For example, he 
stated that he was unable to reach the port facility security 
officer upon entering the port, as the ISPS requires. 
 
ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES REMAIN 
---------------------------- 
 
5. (U) Discussions with DRC officials and Econoffs' visit to 
the port reveal that inadequate funding, poor inter- and 
intra-ministerial communication and lack of adequate training 
and equipment may hamper full upgrade completion. For 
example, Econoff advised DRC's Budget, Plan and Finance 
Ministries of the sanctions and of funding needs; they, like 
ONATRA and the Transport Ministry, were unaware of the 
sanctions and stated they did not know the amount ONATRA 
needed to complete security upgrades. ONATRA is aware of its 
general funding needs for continued upgrades, such as the 
purchase of video monitoring equipment, but it is uncertain 
how to obtain those funds from the appropriate ministries. 
Port security officials are also unaware of all the precise 
steps that remain to complete security upgrades. For example, 
ONATRA did not understand that it had failed to send all 
necessary information to IMO, although it did so after 
Econoff advised of the USCG sanctions. 
 
6. (SBU) To address these obstacles, the GDRC is taking steps 
to form an inter-ministerial ISPS Commission, and is awaiting 
a Presidential decree to proceed. Further, a South African 
consultant is now working with port security officials, 
although it is unclear if it is in an official capacity yet. 
The consultant told the USCG that the advice that the DRC 
received from the prior Belgian consultant is a European 
security solution that would be difficult to implement and 
maintain in the DRC. 
 
7. (C) Post has encouraged the USCG to inspect the DRC's 
ports to verify compliance and provide technical assistance 
with continuing upgrades. The USCG is willing to visit, and 
we are hoping for a visit no later than September. Post has 
also suggested that ONATRA speak to a variety of DRC public 
and private entities that may provide funding support. 
Further, in May Post discussed the port security issue with 
the World Bank (WB) Country Director for South-Central and 
Great Lakes Africa regions, Pedro Alba.  Alba said he is 
interested in investigating the possibility of funding the 
security upgrades. The WB has already provided the DRC funds 
for general port infrastructure rehabilitation through its 
Emergency Multisector Rehabilitation and Reconstruction 
Project. Further, the DRC states that South Africa and The 
Netherlands have promised to provide video controls and 
telecommunications tools for port security. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
8. (C) Although it is unclear if DRC's ports are currently in 
compliance, it is evident that DRC officials now take this 
issue seriously, though it is unfortunate that it required 
sanctions to get attention at the ministerial level. (See 
reftel B). Aside from a lack of funding, communication 
appears to be the primary obstacle to the DRC's progress. In 
particular, ONATRA management must better inform pertinent 
internal actors, such as its port security officers, and more 
effectively report to decision makers and funding ministries. 
The creation of the ISPS Commission is a positive step. 
Additionally, DRC port officials must more effectively 
leverage the IMO representation so that the DRC and the USCG 
have accurate, current information. At least in the near 
term, Post will need to continue to ensure that the relevant 
officials remain informed and committed to continued port 
security improvement. 
MEECE