VZCZCXYZ0003
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMD #1909/01 2741744
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 011744Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3543
INFO RUEHSS/OECD POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 0371
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 0123
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 5222
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0118
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 0235
RUEHBH/AMEMBASSY NASSAU 0359
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 0389
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS MADRID 001909 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EWWT ENRG PARM PREL SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN: UPDATE ON MEGAPORTS NON-PROLIFERATION 
INITIATIVE 
 
 ¶1. (SBU) Summary.  On September 17-18, representatives from 
the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) visited 
Spain to assess the implementation of the Megaports program 
at the Port of Algeciras and negotiate a cost-sharing 
expansion to Spain's other leading ports: Barcelona and 
Valencia.  The Megaports Initiative is a Department of Energy 
(DOE) program to detect illicit nuclear and radioactive cargo 
at ports and was inaugurated in Algeciras in June 2006.  The 
delegation learned that although the program is successfully 
being implemented for import and export traffic, union 
stevedores are blocking the full implementation of the 
selective scanning program for transshipment cargo.  For the 
time being, transshipment cargo represents 90-97 percent of 
all traffic at the Port of Algeciras.  Despite this setback, 
NNSA is moving forward with plans to expand the Megaports 
program to Barcelona and Valencia.  The earliest date by 
which the Barcelona and Valencia Megaports programs could be 
implemented is December 2008.  This cable has been cleared by 
representatives from NNSA.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
PROBLEMS WITH MEGAPORTS IMPLEMENATION AT ALGECIRAS 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) In a visit to the Port of Algeciras September 17, 
NNSA representatives and EconOff learned that while Megaports 
is being implemented for import and export traffic, 
transshipment cargo was virtually being ignored.  The Port of 
Algeciras, one of the most important shipping ports in Spain 
and worldwide, receives 90-97 of its shipping in 
transshipment cargo (cargo that is offloaded from one ship to 
another).  To address this shipping pattern, the NNSA 
installed two specialized sets of radiation portal monitors 
on the quay so that a sample of shipping containers could be 
quickly scanned before being transferred to another ship. 
The import/export traffic is more easily scanned via portal 
monitors installed at the entry/exit gates of the Port of 
Algeciras. 
 
¶3. (SBU) According to port officials, unionized stevedores 
are largely to blame for the lack of implementation of the 
transshipment portion of the program.  The reasons behind the 
union workers' reluctance to implement the program vary. 
Some argue that this program will affect them financially. 
The stevedores are paid by the number of containers moved, 
and a diversion of their normal routes may impact how many 
containers they can move per day.  Others have expressed 
broader discomfort with the program, erroneously associating 
the nuclear detecting portals with potential health hazards. 
Still others may be using this issue as a bargaining chip to 
leverage other union issues during an upcoming collective 
bargaining process between the unions and the Port. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Despite efforts to educate the union workers to the 
benefits of this program, an unrelated July port accident 
which resulted in the deaths of two union workers has 
temporarily halted talks.  Emotions are high on the July 
crane deaths, and port officials fear that if they attempt to 
push for Megaports implementation at this sensitive juncture, 
this move may backlash and potentially jeopardize Megaports 
implementation at other Spanish ports.  Port officials 
advised that it was best to stand down on Megaports 
negotiations while the sensitivities surrounding the 
unrelated incident diminish. 
 
----------------------------------- 
EXPANSION TO VALENCIA AND BARCELONA 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) NNSA wrapped up their visit in Madrid with a meeting 
that included representatives from Spanish customs, the Ports 
of Valencia and Barcelona, and Spain's Nuclear Safety 
Advisory.  Despite the problems encountered with 
transshipment cargo in Algeciras, the participants agreed 
that expansion to Barcelona and Valencia would still be 
worthwhile since those ports handle a large quantity of 
export and import traffic (on average about 80 percent).  All 
parties expressed enthusiasm for the expansion.  They also 
were tentatively willing to share costs, pending budget 
approval from the appropriate channels.  Spanish central 
customs officials added that training on the Megaports 
equipment was ongoing and had been incorporated as part of 
their standard training program in the Madrid central 
training center.  NNSA offered to look into supporting these 
training efforts. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Despite problems with union workers, the GOS is 
extremely supportive of the Megaports program.  In addition 
to expanding to Valencia and Barcelona, Spanish customs 
authorities expressed interest in expanding the Megaports 
concept to as many ports in Spain as possible.  Over the next 
few months, NNSA contractors will travel to Spain to assist 
in the planning of Megaports expansion efforts.  We will 
continue to report on their progress as well as any other 
developments relating to Algeciras.  The earliest date by 
which the Megaports programs in Valencia and Barcelona would 
be up and running would be December 2008. 
 
LLORENS