VZCZCXRO7456
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHBK #1695/01 1960228
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 150228Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7543
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 7266
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 3434
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 3636
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 3446
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5688
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 5632
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1762

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 001695 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS (DRICHELSOPH) 
STATE PASS TO DEPT OF ENERGY (KCROUCH) 
 
E.O. 12958, AS AMENDED:  N/A 
TAGS: KHLS EWWT ETTC PARM PREL TH
SUBJECT:  MEGAPORTS REGIONAL WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS PORT SECURITY 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY. 
 
¶1.   (SBU) Summary:  The first Megaports Initiative Regional 
Workshop was held in Bangkok, Thailand May 12-15, 2009.  The Thai 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Royal Thai Customs, and Port Authority 
of Thailand co-hosted the event with the U.S. Department of Energy 
and the U.S. Embassy.  The workshop drew 140 participants from 
seventeen countries, representing various agencies and private 
enterprises, including customs agencies, foreign ministries, port 
authorities, and port operators.  The purpose of the workshop was to 
provide a forum for current and future regional Megaports Initiative 
partners to share experiences, lessons learned, and ways to improve 
maritime security, as well as to reduce the threat of illicit 
trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive materials.  The 
workshop included overview presentations by USG and foreign 
representatives on the Megaports Initiative and presentations by 
participating countries on their Megaports experience and port 
security in general.  The workshop also included interactive 
break-out sessions and a tour of the Laem Chabang Port's Megaports 
radiation detection system.  Participants considered the workshop a 
success and identified common goals for port security.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Background: The Megaports Initiative (Megaports) is a U.S. 
Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Agency (DOE/NNSA) 
nonproliferation capacity building program that installs radiation 
detection systems at major seaports throughout the world.  Megaports 
systems deter, detect and interdict special nuclear and radioactive 
material through the global maritime system while allowing the free 
flow of legitimate commerce.  Megaports aims to screen export, 
import, and transshipped containers regardless of their final 
destination.  Megaports radiation detection systems include 
radiation portal monitors (RPM), communications systems, training, 
and technical support.  The equipment installed under this program 
in conjunction with trained customs officials will detect the 
presence of special nuclear and other radioactive materials in 
containerized cargo, alerting port and government officials of the 
need to examine the container and take appropriate action. 
Megaports employs passive detection equipment that is completely 
safe for all personnel since the equipment does not emit any 
radiation.  End background. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Royal Thai Customs, 
and Port Authority of Thailand co-hosted the Megaports Regional 
Workshop in Bangkok May 12-15 at the Dusit Thani Hotel with the U.S. 
Department of Energy and the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok.  In addition 
to U.S. and Thai participants, the workshop included representatives 
from Bangladesh, Belgium, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, 
Malaysia, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South 
Korea, and Sri Lanka and Vietnam.  Participants represented various 
agencies and private enterprises, including customs agencies, 
foreign ministries, port authorities, and port operators.  The 
American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand and U.S. Embassy officers 
from Hanoi, New Delhi and Bangkok also participated. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Eric G. John provided the 
conference's opening remarks, in which he noted the number of 
countries participating in the workshop evidenced the interest in 
the region in maritime security.  Key topics raised during the 
Ambassador's opening speech included the importance of securing 
maritime trade since 90 percent of global commerce is conducted by 
sea;  Thailand's Laem Chebang port as a premier regional port that 
has seen an five fold increase in port volume in the last 15 years; 
and the Megaports Initiative's utility in helping countries meet the 
U.S. legislative requirement that all U.S.-bound containers be 
screened by 2012. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Keynote speeches were delivered by Royal Thai Customs Deputy 
Director General Ms. Chawewan Kongcharoenkitkul and U.S. Department 
of Energy Director of the Office of the Second Line of Defense, 
Tracy Mustin.  DG Chawewan highlighted the rapid evolution of the 
global customs environment in the face of advances in technology and 
increased security concerns.  As part of Thailand's efforts to 
balance security measures and trade facilitation, Royal Thai Customs 
(RTC) has been working actively with the World Customs Organization. 
Additionally RTC has partnered with the Megaports Initiative to 
address security concerns regarding nuclear and radioactive 
materials passing through the Port of Laem Chabang.  Mustin outlined 
the role of the Megaports Initiative within the larger Department of 
Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) 
nonproliferation mission.  She also highlighted the threat posed by 
 
BANGKOK 00001695  002 OF 003 
 
 
illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials to 
international security and maritime trade.  The capabilities 
provided through the Megaports Initiative are another layer in the 
multi-layer nonproliferation strategy that is necessary to reduce 
the likelihood that the threat of nuclear terrorism becomes a 
reality.  Enhancing maritime security through the Megaports 
Initiative can facilitate international trade, improve host nation 
security, and enhance the overall security of the international 
maritime trading system. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Select delegates provided presentations on the 
implementation of Megaports Initiative at their port(s) while other 
potential partner country representatives provided a general 
overview of port security measures.  Presentations of note include 
presentations from the delegation from the Netherlands and the 
Philippines.  The Dutch delegation outlined their experience with 
Megaports at the Port of Rotterdam, highlighting an initial pilot 
project with Megaports that demonstrated the value of the program. 
Since the successful completion of the pilot, the Port of Rotterdam 
has installed its own systems tailored to meet its needs.  Key 
additions included increased capabilities to handle higher screening 
speeds as well as automatic identification of naturally occurring 
radioactive materials that do not pose a security threat.  A 
terminal operator at the Port of Manila in the Philippines 
highlighted that business has increased with the installation of 
Megaports Initiative equipment.  The increased business resulted 
from marketing efforts that highlight Megaports Initiative 
state-of-the art technologies deployed in the Philippine's terminal, 
which enhance the safety and security of cargo moving through it. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Sessions at the workshop were devoted to the safety of 
Megaports; the minimal costs associated with running the program; 
the incorporation of Megaports into broader security initiatives 
such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Container Security 
Initiative; and the need to balance trade facilitation with security 
concerns.  Participants also heard about construction and 
installation procedures for placing radiation portal monitors (RPMs) 
at ports and the sustainability of Megaports, including details on 
the anticipated lifecycle costs of running and maintaining 
Megaports. 
 
¶8.  (SBU)  Common themes emerged from the workshop and break-out 
sessions.  Participants recalled that 90 percent of the world's 
commerce travels by sea at some point.  They noted that securing 
maritime commerce while facilitating trade is paramount and that 
detecting nuclear material at the earliest point not only promotes 
security, but benefits and facilitates trade by ensuring shipments 
are safe.  They also noted that Megaports participation enhances a 
port's reputation.  Each breakout session was summarized in a 
chairman's report to the closing plenary.  The main themes included 
the need for communication, the adaptability of the program design, 
a review of national legislation and regulations regarding port 
security, the expansion/use of standard operating procedures, the 
importance of adherence to an active equipment maintenance program, 
and the need for continuous training for port personnel and 
management.  A key challenge raised was finding revenue streams to 
fund sustained operations and upkeep of the detection systems, 
including maintaining technical expertise to use these systems. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Participants took a daytrip to Laem Chabang Port (LCP), 
about 80 miles east of Bangkok, to view the Megaports systems there. 
Megaports went operational at LCP in March 2009.  Royal Thai Customs 
(RTC) has been manning the equipment and resolving radiation alarms 
by cross referencing detection data with manifests or through 
secondary inspections.  Currently, only about 1 percent of 
containers trigger an alarm and only a fraction of those alarmed 
containers require secondary inspections.  The tour gave 
participants the opportunity to see a state-of-the-art Megaports 
facility; they visited the Central Alarm Station, the Secondary 
Inspection Station, export and import gates, and rail gates.  Trucks 
passed RPMs before stopping to pay tolls and ticket stations at key 
choke points.  The flow of traffic and placement of the detection 
equipment resulted in little or no delays. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) An American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) representative 
also delivered a presentation on shipping companies' desire to 
promote secure trade while minimizing business costs.  Amcham 
Thailand, through its Transportation and Logistics Committee, has 
been an advocate of safety and security at ports and has hosted 
numerous sessions on port security initiatives. 
 
 
BANGKOK 00001695  003 OF 003 
 
 
¶11.  (SBU) This cable was coordinated with the Department of 
Energy. 
 
JOHN