Is "Megaports Initiative" on our radar?

NNSA's Megaports Initiative

Washington DC (VNA) -Kenneth E. Baker, a top official of US Department

of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), has praised

Vietnam 's efforts and commitment to keeping dangerous materials out of

the hands of terrorists, smugglers and proliferators.

In a press release issued on July 2 relating to the signing in Hanoi of

a minutes of understanding (MoU) by the US Department of Energy and the

Vietnamese Ministry of Finance to install radiation detection equipment

at the port of Cai Mep in the province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Kenneth E.

Baker, NNSA's Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for NNSA's Office

of Defence Nuclear Nonproliferation, said the agreement represents a

major step towards achieving the US goal of equipping 100 ports with

radiation detection equipment by 2015 and implementing President Obama's

nuclear security agenda.

According to Baker, NNSA and the Ministry of Finance's General

Department of Customs may collaborate on installing radiation detection

equipment at other ports in Vietnam in the future. NNSA will also train

Vietnamese officials on the use of the equipment and provide for

maintenance of the equipment for a specified period.

At a press conference held in Washington DC on July 2 on the signing of

the MoU, William Kilmartin, who oversees NNSA's Megaports Initiative

programme, said the agreement "is a very good important step for the

future relations and nuclear cooperation of the two countries."

Kilmartin stressed that the signing was one of the activities held by

the US and Vietnam in this July when the two countries were celebrating

the 15th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

Source: VNA news agency website, Hanoi, in English 3 Jul 10

https://wikileaks.org/gifiles/docs/82/821048_bbc-monitoring-alert-vietnam-.html

Here's a thing.

National Nuclear Security Administration

Shanghai, 7 December: China and the United States kicked off a Megaports

Initiative pilot project in Shanghai on Wednesday [7 December], amid

efforts to improve security via radiation checks for cargo carriers at

the city's Yangshan Port.

The initiative, an important part of the China-U.S. cooperation on

fighting terrorism, is aimed at preventing the illegal transport of

nuclear and other radioactive materials by installing detection systems

in relevant ports.

The two nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the

initiative in November 2005 and began technical talks on the MOU's 11

annexes in February 2006. The talks finished in May 2007.

According to the cooperation plan, the Yangshan Port pilot project will

be jointly carried out by China's General Administration of Customs,

China's Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and

Quarantine, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

"Through the initiative, China and the United States have done lots of

fruitful work in customs security cooperation and radiation detection

technology training, which laid a solid foundation for the two countries

to carry out cooperation in combating terrorism," Lu Peijun, deputy

commissioner of the General Administration of Customs, said at an

inauguration ceremony for the pilot project at Yangshan Port.

"Meanwhile, the Megaports Initiative has also become an important

channel for China to boost safety and facilitation in its global trade

sector," he said.

To date, 18 sets of radiation detection equipment have been installed at

the Yangshan deep-water port, and a detection control center has also

been built.

The start of the pilot project at Yangshan marks the 40th such port

under the Megaports Initiative, as well as the initiative's first in

China.

It reflects "the commitment of the Chinese government to interdicting

nuclear material and in combating nuclear terrorism," Thomas D'Agostino,

head of the National Nuclear Security Administration, said at the

ceremony.

Yangshan Port had exported almost 3.9 million heavy containers in the

first 10 months of this year, with 17.6 per cent bound for the United

States, customs statistics show.

Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 0844gmt 07 Dec 11

BBC Mon AS1 ASDel pr

(c) Copyright British Broadcasting Corporation 2011

https://wikileaks.org/gifiles/docs/77/772010_us-china-china-us-start-pilot-project-to-monitor-cargo-at.html

Port of Long Beach and HRC.

From:alex@ekapr.com

To: john.podesta@gmail.com

Date: 2016-01-20 16:28

Subject: FW: Brief Summary of MHRP Proposed Campaign event

John:

Had a very productive conversation with Madhuri and other staffers about setting up this campaign event. Just wanted to keep you in the loop as it relates to our conversation in Los Angeles.

Best,

Alex Cherin

From: Alex Cherin

Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2016 10:27 AM

To: Madhuri Kommareddi (mkommareddi@gmail.com)

Subject: Brief Summary of MHRP Proposed Campaign event

Madhuri:

As discussed, here is a very brief write-up on the proposed campaign stop. If there is interest, I will have the Port of Long Beach send a formal invitation and proposed dates.

Best,

Alex Cherin

Hillary for America Campaign Event Proposal

Location / Backdrop: Port of Long Beach, Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project, Long Beach, California.

Overview: The Port of Long Beach, together with its neighbor the Port of Los Angeles, comprises the largest Port complex in the nation. It is the primary gateway to trade with Asia and the Ports' terminals facilitate over 40% of the total imported cargo into the United States annually. The Ports combined are the 5th largest in the world and are responsible (directly and indirectly) for nearly 1 in 4 jobs in Southern California. A recent Department of Transportation study determined that every Congressional district in the country is impacted by the activities at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

Currently, the Port of Long Beach and its tenant, Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT - a subsidiary of OOCL), are developing a $1.6 billion infrastructure project called "The Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project" (MHRP). At full build out, the MHRP will be North America's most technologically advanced terminal facility and will be the first "Zero emission" Port facility in the world. The project employs nearly 1,500 construction workers and will create roughly 14,000 new jobs in the region. The project has the support of the international shipping community, the ILWU and the Ports.

Issues to be Covered: The event provides the perfect venue to discuss trade policy, commentary on the TPP Agreement as well as the Secretary's environmental and infrastructure plans.

Logistics: The Port of Long Beach is approximately 30 minutes from LAX and 15 minutes from Long Beach Airport.

Proposed Itinerary: A brief land-side tour of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach followed by a tour of the MHRP. In addition, a suggested roundtable with Mayors Eric Garcetti (Los Angeles) , Robert Garcia (Long Beach) and stakeholders form the international trade/shipping community and labor should be included.

Additional information about the project can be found here: http://www.polb.com/about/projects/middleharbor.asp

https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/emailid/5682

Guessing your friend referenced below is CH Tung?

From:alex@ekapr.com

To: john.podesta@gmail.com

Date: 2016-02-08 16:08

Subject: RE: Port of Long Beach / Alex Cherin

John:

Notice that HRC will be in Los Angeles on Feb. 22nd for fundraiser with Mayor Garcetti. Any chance we can push to get her down to Ports of Long Beach/Los Angeles or is it too short a window? If it’s a possibility, I can have Mayor of Long Beach reach out to her. Would envision a short tour of the facility, short roundtable with industry folks and labor members. Thoughts?

Best,

Alex Cherin

From: John Podesta [mailto:john.podesta@gmail.com]

Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 1:58 AM

To: Alex Cherin

Subject: Re: Port of Long Beach / Alex Cherin

Glad you are involved. We need to do big things in this area.

On Monday, December 14, 2015, Alex Cherin <alex@ekapr.com<mailto:alex@ekapr.com>wrote:

John - just wanted to thank you for your help in introducing me to Jake and others. We had our first Infrastructure Committee call last week for the campaign and I am excited both by the caliber of folks in the group and by the issues that will be addressed.

Thanks again and hope to keep you updates as we move forward.

Thanks

Alex Cherin

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 30, 2015, at 5:48 PM, "John Podesta" <john.podesta@gmail.com<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','john.podesta@gmail.com');>wrote:

Yup. Had dinner with him last Thursday.

On Wednesday, September 30, 2015, Alex Cherin <alex@ekapr.com<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','alex@ekapr.com');>wrote:

John - followed up with Jake. Thank you. Guessing your friend referenced below is CH Tung? If so please send my regards . His family company OOCL is the entity building The Middle Harbor Project trough their sister company (and my client) LBCT.

Alex

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 28, 2015, at 6:28 AM, "John Podesta" <john.podesta@gmail.com<mailto:john.podesta@gmail.com>wrote:

Thanks Alex. As I mentioned, we are just at the stage of building out our policy advisory teams so this is timely. I have added Jake Sullivan, our policy director, so his team can follow up. The Middle Harbor project seems like an amazing win-win. After we talked, I ran into a friend from Hong Kong who said his family business was also involved, so small world.

On Monday, September 28, 2015, Alex Cherin <alex@ekapr.com<mailto:alex@ekapr.com>-wrote:

John - it was a pleasure sitting and chatting with you last week in Los Angeles. As discussed, I would be happy (and honored) to assist the HC campaign on trade and transportation related issues. Given my professional background as former Executive Officer/Managing Director of the Port of Long Beach I can provide policy support in matters ranging from international trade matters to expertise on transportation related infrastructure.

In addition, we discussed the specific project underway at the Middle Harbor in Long Beach which at build out will be the largest seaport terminal facility in North America and will utilize all zero emission equipment including the world's largest battery exchange building.

I would be happy to provide more background and facilitate a potential tour of the facility for the Secretary.

I can be reached at alex@ekapr.com<mailto:alex@ekapr.comor 562-480-7334.

Best,

Alex Cherin

https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/emailid/7365