VZCZCXRO8556
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #0241/01 0930832
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 030832Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0919
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1607
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHDC
RUEATRA/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEHFN/USDAO FREETOWN SL
RUEHAB/USDAO ABIDJAN IV
RUEHAR/USDAO ACCRA GH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MONROVIA 000241 
 
COGARD FOR IPSLO ACTIVITIES EUROPE ADAM SHAW 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EWWT EFIS PHSA SENV LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN PORT SECURITY 
DEMONSTRATE GOL'S COMMITMENT TO PORT SECTOR REFORM 
 
REF: A) MONROVIA 135, B) MONROVIA 70, C) 08 MONROVIA 249, D) 07 
MONROVIA 627 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) International Port 
Security (IPS) Program country visit team reported March 27 that 
they will recommend that Liberia be found in compliance with the 
minimum International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code standards, 
at which time restrictions on ships coming from Monrovia would be 
lifted.  In anticipation of the USCG visit, Liberian port and 
maritime officials carried out a comprehensive, albeit last minute, 
overhaul of security measures at the Port of Monrovia in an effort 
to secure ISPS Code compliance that would remove Liberia from the 
U.S. Coast Guard's Port Security Advisory.  The USCG team 
congratulated Liberian authorities for clear improvements in 
implementation at the national and port level, but noted that 
sustained and strong oversight would be necessary for the program to 
succeed.  The USCG suggested they would maintain a close partnership 
with Liberia at this crucial stage, with visits every six months, 
and requested assistance from post to monitor security measures at 
the port in the interim.  Although still a provisional finding, the 
accomplishment is a signal of Liberia's will and ability to make the 
efforts necessary to meet international standards in security and 
commerce, and demonstrate credibility within the international 
community.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) During a March 23-27 official assessment visit, the USCG 
team acknowledged "monumental" efforts by Liberian port and maritime 
authorities to meet the minimum standards of the ISPS code, thanks 
in large part to direction at the national level by the Bureau of 
Maritime Affairs (BMA), which was appointed as the Designated 
Authority for ISPS in October, 2008.  New BMA Commissioner Binyah 
Kesselly oversaw the effort, assisted by newly appointed Port 
Facility Security Officer, Emmett Hill, and an IMO/ISPS consultant 
on loan to the BMA from the Liberia International Shipping and 
Corporate Registry (LISCR).  (Note: The BMA, through LISCR, also 
monitors ISPS compliance aboard Liberian-flagged vessels and 
conducts flag-state inspections aboard all Liberian-flagged ships to 
verify ISPS Code compliance.  End note.) 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Over the last few months, the BMA-led group worked 
frantically with the National Port Authority (NPA) and the Liberian 
Seaport Police (LSP) to implement substantial improvements in many 
areas previously identified by the USCG for action:  reinforcing 
perimeter fencing and lighting, upgrading identification 
requirements and access checks, training roughly half (94 out of 
187) of current LSP officers on ISPS code, and finalizing a Port 
Facility Security Plan (PFSP) in February.  The BMA then officially 
reviewed and adopted the PFSP March 6 and conducted required 
table-top and port level exercises March 17-18.  The BMA also plans 
to sign a two-year contract with an outside firm for quarterly 
security audits and annual training to ensure implementation of ISPS 
code is robust. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The USCG team commended Liberian officials for their 
achievements but cautioned that Liberia's new port security 
institutions had no history of performance on which to judge 
sustainability.  They noted that continued enforcement at the port 
level and oversight at the national level would be necessary to 
ensure the program's success.  They also emphasized that while the 
development of the program was driven by the personalities and 
determination of a handful of individuals, the sustainability of the 
program required an institution for continuity in security.  The 
team was concerned about national-level implementation and oversight 
issues including continued jurisdictional confusion between the LSP 
and Liberia National Police, and the potential for further confusion 
with the new Liberian Coast Guard regarding port access and 
waterside security.  (Note:  At a National Security Council meeting 
March 25, attended by Ambassador, the BMA asserted its role as 
Designated Authority for port security and the President said she 
was committed to BMA finishing the job.  But the ensuing discussion 
made clear that the potential for turf incidents involving other 
security services remains.  End note). 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The focus on ISPS compliance for the commercial port of 
Monrovia has obscured other issues that will soon test the 
Designated Authority (DA) and reinforce the need for strong, capable 
national oversight.  First, although it serves as the only 
international lifeline for fuel imports to Liberia, the oil jetty at 
 
MONROVIA 00000241  002 OF 002 
 
 
the Port of Monrovia is not part of the PFSP approved by the DA. 
The USCG noted that the jetty facility must also be brought into 
ISPS compliance and the BMA said they would have a plan in place by 
July, 2009.  Second, the port of Buchanan, 60 miles southeast of 
Monrovia, is already exporting timber and should be held to ISPS 
standards.  The USCG paid an informal visit and observed significant 
security deficiencies and the BMA noted it was planning a Port 
Facility Security Assessment (PFSA) for Buchanan in August, 2009. 
Third, now that Monrovia has met minimum ISPS standards, the USCG 
will eventually have to relinquish its role as the DA for the 
separate ISPS-compliant facility maintained by Firestone.  Firestone 
officials are anxious that a strong national level DA be secure 
before the USCG hands over its certification role. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Overall, the USCG stressed the need for constant 
monitoring and continued engagement by the USG.  The USCG will 
recommend sending a liaison officer back within six months for an 
informal visit and a full team within one year for a formal 
assessment.  They also invited relevant Liberian officials to visit 
U.S. ports in order to learn more about ISPS.  Meanwhile, the USCG 
requested that the BMA and the Embassy monitor port security 
developments in order to establish a record of performance. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Over time, Liberia's compliance with the ISPS Code will 
help lower insurance costs for ships passing through Monrovia and 
would facilitate direct shipping routes between Liberia and the 
United States.  But in the short term, removal from the PSA 
"blacklist" will be a notable boost to national pride and an 
important benchmark for Liberia's evolution from post-conflict to 
developing country.  (The USCG's March 27 exit brief with maritime 
officials was already a visible boost to the confidence and momentum 
of those individuals fighting for change at the port.) 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Control of the port was a key spoil-of-war during and 
immediately after Liberia's civil conflict.  Although the United 
Nations took over responsibility for securing the perimeter of the 
port in 2003, security inside the port remained grossly inadequate. 
Employment at the port - especially in security - was often a 
lucrative enterprise for dishonest insiders.  As recently as 2007, 
security was so lax that thieves stole an entire ship from the pier 
(ref D).  Reforming port security (along with port finance and 
operations) has been a constant source of frustration for the GOL, 
and a focus of support from the USG.  In this context, the 
substantial improvements in port security and the GOL's 
determination and methodical progress towards awarding a management 
contract for the port (ref A) both confirm the GOL's commitment and 
ability to credibly meet international standards. 
 
¶9.  (U) This cable was cleared by the U.S. Coast Guard International 
Port Security Liaison Officer. 
 
THOMAS-GREENFIELD