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Subject: Procedures for Research Vessel Clearance Requests in Cuban Waters.
Released by the Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental
and Scientific Affairs, February 1999.
OES/OA has been advised by our U.S. Interests Section in Havana that
they have received updated requirements for research vessels operating
in Cuban waters. Following this summary is a complete translation-
please note, our post has indicated that the requests must be submitted
in duplicate and translated into Spanish.
Also, Cuba requires that all requests be submitted at least six months
in advance. Consequently, all requests must be submitted to the
Department of State at least seven months prior to the proposed start
of research, and in compliance with the "UNOLS Handbook for
International Operations of U.S. Research Vessels."
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cable from USINT Havana 000672, 082105Z FEB 99
Subject: Cubans remind about procedures for clearance request for
research vessels
Ref: (A) STATE 17232 and previous
(B) 98 HAVANA 246
1. Summary: The Cuban government has reiterated via diplomatic note
its intent to, in effect, reject all requests for clearance for U.S.
marine research vessels seeking to enter and conduct research in Cuban
territorial waters, unless those requests include extensive information
about the cruise, the research, and the sailors/researchers. The
Cubans do not appear to be asking us to provide any information beyond
what is covered in the 1982 U.N. Law of the Sea Convention, to which
Cuba is a member. That said, the Department should warn all requestors
that the Government of Cuba will refuse requests that do not comply
with its informational requirements, starting with the six month lead
time provision. End Summary.
2. U.S. Interests Section received February 3 the Cuban foreign
ministry's (MINREX) note number 164 dated January29, regarding
procedures governing requests for entry into Cuban waters for the
purpose of conducting marine scientific research. An informal
translation follows:
...with reference to the requests for authorization of marine
scientific research aboard U.S. boats in Cuban jurisdictional waters.
The Ministry wishes to inform that the requests for authorization of
marine scientific research, in the great majority, have been presented
with incomplete documentation, making difficult their processing and
halting the process of analysis and approval on the part of the
relevant Cuban authorities.
The Ministry wishes to remind that by virtue of the established
procedures in the United Nations 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea
(Article 248), all sponsors of scientific research are obligated to
present the request for authorization at least six months, at a
minimum, prior to the proposed start date and furnish the coastal state
in which the research will take place, a complete description of the
research project including the following points:
1. the name and nationality of the research project's entity,
organization or sponsoring institution;
2. the nature, goals, and description of the research project;
3. the precise geographic areas (coordinates) in which the research
and travel of the ship will take place within Cuban jurisdictional
waters;
4. trajectory (routes) of the boat(s) to be utilized, indicating the
last port of call and the following information for each vessel;
a) name, class, and nationality;
b) name of the captain/commander and composition of the crew;
c) length overall, breadth of beam, draft and tonnage;
d) international call sign;
e) if carrying aircraft, the number and characteristics of each
aircraft;
f) systems and communications equipment and frequencies to be
utilized; and
g) maritime-port services that each boat needs and proposed length
of stay in port.
5. methods and means to be used, including a description of the
scientific equipment.
6. a complete plan of the activities including dates for the start
and end of the research project, of the initial entry and final
departure of the research in Cuban waters, and the removal of equipment
as necessary.
7. the level of participation in the project by Cuban scientific
personnel including the location and facilities to board the vessel.
8. names, nationality, and curriculum vitae of the project's research
staff, which should be presented no less than one month prior to the
beginning of the research.
The Ministry wishes to indicate, in addition, that the requests for
authorization for the realization of marine scientific research should
be presented in Spanish (two copies) and should be written in 1.5-
spaced lines.
The Ministry also wishes to point out that all requests for
authorization for marine scientific research in Cuban jurisdictional
waters must comply with the above-mentioned requirements to be
processed with the relevant national authorities, and ask the
cooperation of the U.S. authorities in relaying these points to
sponsors of the research voyages.
Standard close
Havana, January 29, 1999
3. Comment: The Cubans are serious about holding to these
requirements. We appreciate the Department's making it clear to the
sponsors of such cruises that failure will result in delayed if not
denied authorization from Cuba.
[end of document]
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