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COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY rriin•e:EN
BAGHDAD
(j)
INFO MEMO
Man:h 1, 2004
FOR:
FROM:
SUBJECT: Ministry of Transportation Issues Upclale
MARITIME ,(b)(S)
Port Task Fon:c-Chair Victoria Wayne'-< b
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• UNDP Coatract lor Scrap RemovaL The UN Development Program (UNDP) has
tendered out a project for bids to n:move scrap metal from the port ofUmm Qasr,
which will close in one week. Two weeb ago, the CPA/MoT, the Iraqi MoT, and
UNDP signed a contract to remove large amounts of scrap from wrecks covering the
docb at Umm Qasr. The UNDP-funded work will ina'ease the port's capacity by JOt/,
within a short time.
• Sapp1emeotal-laaded Drcclgiag. MoT and PMO an: working to finalize the Super
8(a) contract. totaling $3 . .5 million. to commence: supplemental-funded dredging.
• Delivel')' of Weapons for lPA. The Iraq Port Authority in Umm Qasr received 160
AK-47'a and associated ammunition for use in training and equipping the IPA security
force.
• TniDiag Secarif1 Gaanls ac Umm Qasr. Supervising port security at Umm Qasr,
Olive Security Co. bas graduated the first class of 45 guanis. After 3 mon: weeks, the
pon should have approximately 16S additional trained guards. By that time, the
number of guards should total approximately 300.
• SSA Coarnel Esteasioa. SSA 's contract to manage the port of Umm Qasr is
scheduled to expin: on Marth 22. MoT obtained Program Review Committee (PRe-
precursor to Program Review Board) approval for funding totaling $.5.1 million to
support SSA 's contract extension until June 30. Simultaneously, MoT staff is working
with USAlD and SSA to continue the existing contract until funds are expended. The
proposed contract extension using PRB funds would help enswe that professional
management and training of Iraqi IDIJI88Crs will continue until June 30, in order to
provide sufficient time to awatd a long-term port management contract in conjunction
with the Iraq Port Authority.
• CoUecccd Port Fees. MoT staff is developing a plan to transfer port revenues that SSA
receives from ships delivering goods to Umm Qasr on behalf of the Iraq Port Authority.
Due to the IPA 's inability to administer electronic funds transfer (EFT), SSA receives
these fees and holds lhem in trust in ac:counts in Kuwait and Seattle. MoT is working
lo transfer these funds into Iraq, when: they will not be subject to seizure and into a
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trust whereby appropriate sipaturcs would be ~uired to ufcguard it and c:usure their
appropriate usc.
• MWtuy C&J'l:o Distrlbatfoa throap Kllawr Az Zubayr (KAZ). MoT's port tam
met with the Unun Qasr·based US Army Surface Deployment and Distribution
Command unit to discuss the command's decision to ship military WBO into Iraq
throuah Maenk, which is based at KAZ. BfTeetively, this means that all military W'gO
shipped ilUO Kuwait by water will go throush KAZ.
• CoordlDatioa bc&wccu FPS aad Iraqi Pon Authority (IPA) suards. In conjW1Ction
with the FPS security program. sn FPS guards are being officially transferred to MOT
for use at Umm Qasr, as of March l. These guards have been in place at Uuun Qasr
and are now going to be paid through Ministry of Transport.
• Faet at the Port of Umm Qur. CPA Ministry of Oil presented to SSA a contract
between Ministry of Oil and the Iraq Port Authority on fuel bunlcerins. PursiWlt to this
agreement, the port will be able to purchase its fuel generator requirements. This
should reduce the port's operating expenses. Until the port is reconnec:teU to the
electrical grid, fuel generators arc exclusively powering it.
• Briefaag ADM. Nash at Umm Qur. The ports team in Umm Qasr briefed ADM.
Nash on the needs of the port, and delivered a "wish list" of critical action items needed
to enable delivery of reconstruction cargo for the UN Donora • Conference in Abu
Dhabi, which ADM. Nash attended.
AVIATIO (b)(2),(b)(3):10 usc §130b,(b)(6)
• VSAT lllstalJcd. On February 29, 2004, technicians from Bc:chtel, the Jntemationa.l
Air Transport Association (lATA). and the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
installed the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSA 1) to improve voice and data linkage
between air traffic control and airm.ft in Ar Rutbah. in western Iraq. As the last of7
VSAT sites to be inslaJied in Iraq, this VSA T sites provides the backbone for air traffic
control information throughout Iraq. Installation meets the strategic plan deadline of
March I. Validation testing is still in progress.
• Task Orders for BIAP lafraatraetare. MoT's aviation team developed task orders
for the supplemental-funded BIAP infrastructure improvement project, for submission
to PMO. l1uec &ask orders on airfield lighting, terminal infrastructure assessment and
checkpoints have been submitted. In addition. funding has been set against
modifica1ion to the ANS contract.
• Cargo opcradoa• at Bum. Following planned Port Tuk force meeting, MoT staff
is planning to meet the British military in mid-March to move forward on initiating
CllJ'BO flights into 8asrah airport, which will bring supplemental cargo and passenger
flights associated with that W'gO.
• ANS Coutnct. MoTs aviation team undertook site turvey~ of SlAP airfields for
iDStallation of the Air Navigation System (ANS). Construction surveys will continue
for the next 2 weeks. The outbricf report is due In early March.
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• McteorologJcal World Bank request. MoT's aviation team drafted a $60 million
World BW submission to help establish World Meteorological Organization (WMO}
sponsored ttust fund to rebuild the Iraq Meteorological Organization. A lcner was
submitted to the Italian Ambassador requesting the Italian donation for meteorology
with a defined project, which will provide weather capabilities for BIAP.
• Requatiag CivU AfJain team. MoT will request a Civil Affairs team co assist CPA
with the ongoing building improvemenl projects that have been started by I AD's Civil
Affairs Battalion. These units can apply for Anny's CERP funds that are spec:ifically
used to restore basic infrastructure capability.
• BIAP Transitioa. MoT's aviation team is working with Iraqi Airways to administer a
preliminary inspection of buildings atBIAP. Iraqi Airways will supply a list of
employees working 24n at these buildings. AI SQ, MoT met with CJTF-7 to discuss the
transition chart and SC<:urily issues for the assumption of authority by the Iraqi Civil
Aviation Authority (CAA) and Iraqi Airways.
• BIAP Nortel Swlt~b. MoT staff is working with Iraqi technicians and Bechtel to
ensure all parties understand the telecommunications installation blueprint. for turning
over to CPA and Iraqi technicians. Technicians have been unable to program the
switch to install fiber-optic remotes at other buildings, and phones al BIAP's terminal
C. While Bechtel needs to close out work orders, MoT staff is ensuring the system is
ready for turnover.
• Kuwaiti AlrliDes spare parts. MoT's aviation team arranged the removal of the
Kuwaiti Airlines spare parts {two containers) from BlAP to Kuwait City via flat-bed
trucks. The POC of the Kuwaiti Airlines (KAC) will arrive BIAP Thursday to start the
process under the supervision of CPA, Civil Affairs, Iraqi Airways, and the General
Coun<:il. Pursuant to a court order, an agreement bas been reached to deliver the
inventory to Kuwait on a date 10 be detennincd.
RAILROADS
• Arrival of Rut sian Lowmotives. The first two of six Russian-built large shunting
locomotives au:qWrcd under the Oil-for-Food (OFF) program have been received and
are being readied for service.
• Arrival of New Ukrainian Locomotives. The first two of an eventual thirty new
Ukrainian-built mainline diesel-electric locomotives acquired under the UN Oil-for-
Food project arrived in Baghdad. A fwther eight will arrive shortly. They will be
prepared for se.rvice at the workshop in Baghdad and then immediately be placed in
traffic.
• VHF radio hsstalladoa. To date, VHF radios have been installed in 36locomotives,
including all of the active Baghdad-based units. Base station radios have been installed
in 17loc:alions, all in the area between Baghdad and Basrah/Umm Qasr. Additionally,
a number of stations north of Baghdad will receive their radios at a later date, because
they already bad operational radios. A substantial number of hand-held radios have
also been distributed. Performance of the radios bas exceeded expectations,
particularly in their effective range.
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• lnqi-S)'riaa Railways Discuaioo. Senior managemcau of the Iraqi and Syrian
railways arc meeting iD Bagbdad to discuss a variety of bilateral issues including
matters related to the CUI1'Cilt movement of World Food Program (WFP) grain and a
proposed movement of 200,000 tons of Iraqi eTUde oil to Syria. More than 2,000
wagons of Syrian and Turkish traffic have clOSKd the border at Rabiya in the first two
months ofthls year.
SURFACE TRANSPORT
• latermoclal Property at BIAP. Today, MoT signed for the propeny that is being
VBeated by the U.S. Army's 125111 Forward Support Battalion. at the Atlas Forward
Operatins Base iD the Abu Ohurayb area north of the Baghdad International Airport
(BIAP). This property is 7km long and lkm wide, contains many suitable WBRhouses,
and served as the former Iraqi Anny's tank maintenance facility. The site is envisioned
to be developed into an intennodal transportation. distribution and warehousing hub for
central lraq over the next 7 to 10 years. On February 29, 2004, when I AD forces draw
down, the facility will be secured by MVM Corp. (private ~ntractor) and a contingent
of Iraqi Police. High vaJuc assets located on the property Include 21 megawatt diesel
generators, several major warehouses with AC and cranes, cafeteria, firearms training
range, headquarters' buildings, and slccpi.llleting quarters with city water outlets.
The Ministry of Transportation will complete a TOA with the lAD military unit
redeploying batlt to CONUS on Febnwy 29.
• World Baak Project Aedvity. During a video confenmce, MoT presenled a $3 million
projec:t to integrate existing bus tnnsportarlon facilities and buses by establishing a
dispatc:b and maintenance maoagement system, and a S2.S million project to provide
continuing edueation to mid-level ministry maoaam. Also, 7lraqi MoT staff arc
(UJTently undergoing World Bank tJaining in conlrlct$, finance, and project
management
ATTACHMENTS: NONE
COORDINATION: DepartmentHeads
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