Cablegate: Indonesia Port Security Advisory Delay

VZCZCXRO6406
PP RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #3255 3310925
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 270925Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE PRIORITY 6228
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7177
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHAA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI PRIORITY
RUWDQAA/COMPACAREA COGARD ALAMEDA CA PRIORITY
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS JAKARTA 003255

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS AND EB/TRA/AN, SINGAPORE FOR COAST GUARD-
LCDR PURGANAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EWWT ID PBTS
SUBJECT: INDONESIA PORT SECURITY ADVISORY DELAY

REF: A) JAKARTA 2363 B) JAKARTA 3086

1. (SBU) Summary and Action Request: Visiting regional Coast
Guard liaison officer informed Government of Indonesia (GOI)
officials and representatives from U.S. companies with
private port facilities that the Port Security Advisory (PSA)
for Indonesia would not be issued November 24 as originally
planned. Government officials and U.S. companies strongly
urged that the U.S. not issue the advisory until they had an
opportunity to qualify to have their ports placed on the
exempt list prior to the announcement of the PSA. Embassy
strongly supports their request. Embassy would appreciate
guidance we can share with GOI and private-sector companies
on how Indonesian port facilities can be exempted from the
PSA via the alternative procedures process. End Summary and
Action Request.

2. (SBU) During a November 19-21 visit, Singapore-based USCG
International Port Security Liaison Officer LCDR Phil
Purganan informed officials in the Directorate General for
Sea Transportation (DGST) and representatives of U.S.
companies that operate private ports that the Port Security
Advisory for Indonesia scheduled to go into effect on or
about November 24 had been delayed for several weeks. DGST
officials asked whether it was possible to use the delay to
obtain exemptions from the eventual PSA for six key ports
which have already been visited by the Coast Guard and found
not to be compliant with the International Ship and Port
Facility Code (ISPS).

3. (SBU) DGST officials indicated that they do not object to
using the alternative procedures process involving recognized
security organizations (RSOs). They expressed their strong
belief that they should have an opportunity to address any
security shortcomings before a PSA goes into effect. They
believe that the bureaucratic delay in announcing the PSA
provides ample time to give them this opportunity.

4. (SBU) In meetings with Chevron, British Petroleum, and
Newmont, all of whom operate private port facilities which
handle ships destined directly for the U.S., LCDR Purganan
was also told that these companies would like to have their
facilities exempted via the alternative procedures process
prior to the PSA going into effect.

5. (SBU) Embassy recommends that we take advantage of the
delay in the announcement of the Port Security Advisory to
give DGST and private companies an opportunity to qualify for
exempt status. This will minimize disruption in
U.S.-Indonesian trade and will also send a strong signal to
DGST officials that we are willing to work with them to
address their concerns. We would appreciate guidance we can
share with DGST and private-sector companies on how the
alternative procedures process works.

HUME
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