Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09CARACAS1181, THE CUBANS IN VENEZUELA'S PORTS

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09CARACAS1181.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09CARACAS1181 2009-09-09 12:24 2010-11-30 21:30 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Caracas
VZCZCXYZ0019
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCV #1181/01 2521224
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 091224Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 001181 

SIPDIS 

NSC FOR LROSSELLO 
TREASURY FOR MKACZMAREK 
USDOC FOR 4332 MAC/ITA/WH/JLAO 
HQ SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2019 
TAGS: ECON PGOV ETRD EINV MARR CU VE
SUBJECT: THE CUBANS IN VENEZUELA'S PORTS 

REF: CARACAS 1022 AND PREVIOUS 

CARACAS 00001181 001.2 OF 002 


Classified By: Economic Counselor Darnall Steuart for reasons 1.4 (b) a 
nd (d) 

1. (C) SUMMARY. Post has comfirmed that a wholly Venezuelan 
government-owned company, Bolipuertos, is now charged with 
the management of Venezuela's ports. Cuba's ASPORT has a 49 
percent share in Puertos del Alba, a separate company, which 
will reportedly be focused on business development. Contacts 
in shipping circles, however, tell us that the Cubans are 
active in the ports as "advisors" to Bolipuertos and were 
instrumental in pushing for the take over of port operations. 
Bolipuertos has taken over private warehouse operations at 
three ports named in the original March 25 Decree (Guamache, 
Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello) as well as a fourth -- La Guaira, 
the port serving Caracas. Shipping contacts report rumors 
that the government may nationalize stevedoring and customs 
agent services. Insurance premiums have reportedly increased 
35-40 percent since May. END SUMMARY. 

BOLIPUERTOS & PUERTOS DEL ALBA 
------------------------------ 

2. (SBU) Post has clarified the issue of the management of 
Venezuela's ports. Two companies of virtually the same name 
have been decreed by the Government of the Bolivarian 
Republic of Venezuela (GBRV). The first -- Bolivariana de 
Puertos S.A. (BPSA or Bolipuertos) -- was founded by Decree 
on June 12, 2007. This company was to be a mixed 
Venezuelan-Cuban company with Cuba's Grupo Empresarial de la 
Industria Portuaria (ASPORT) having a 49 percent share. We 
understand that this first Bolipuertos was never actually 
registered as a company. The second Bolivariana de Puertos 
(BP or Bolipuertos) was created by Decree No. 6,645 dated 
March 25, 2009, to "maintain, administer and develop" 
Venezuela's ports. According to that Decree, the Venezuelan 
state holds 100 percent of the capital of the second 
Bolipuertos which was assigned to the Ministry for Public 
Works and Housing. Neither of these companies is Puertos del 
Alba in which the Cubans have a significant investment. 

3. (C) On July 29, 2009, as reported reftel, the GBRV 
published another Decree in the National Gazette authorizing 
the creation of Puertos del Alba, a state-owned company to be 
charged with "modernizing, renovating, equipping, and 
constructing" ports in Venezuela and Cuba. Cuba's ASPORT has 
a 49 percent share in Puertos del Alba with the 51 percent 
majority share remaining with Bolipuertos. A close Embassy 
contact tells us that the intent of the GBRV is to "follow 
the Cuban model" by installing a company (Bolipuertos) that 
will run all aspects of port operations in Venezuela while 
Puertos del Alba will act as its business development arm. 
Other contacts assert that Bolipuertos retains Cuban 
"advisors" on staff, but they do not believe that the Cubans 
have formal managerial responsibility in the company. These 
advisors, however, are believed to have urged the GBRV to 
move ahead with taking control of the ports. 

4. (C) The March 25, 2009, Decree creating (or re-creating) 
Bolipuertos stipulated that it would be responsible for the 
infrastructure of Puerto El Guamache (the Isla Marguerita 
cruise ship port), Maracaibo Port, Puerto Cabello 
(Venezuela's largest port), as well as that of "any ports to 
be developed in the future." As reported reftels, a 
subsequent Decree dated July 30, declared the immediate 
nationalization of private warehouse operations at the three 
ports named in the March 25 Decree as well as a fourth -- La 
Guaira, the port serving Caracas. Our contacts in the 
shipping industry tell us that it appears likely that 
Bolipuertos will also take control of port operations at 
Guanta, Palua/Puerto Ordaz, Guiria and Cumana. 

PORT SERVICES STILL TROUBLED 
---------------------------- 

5. (C) Operations in Puerto Cabello were interrupted for 
four days following the take over of warehouse operations at 
the beginning of August. Reports of significant problems 
have continued since the resumption of operations. Former 
Petroleum Chamber President Andres Duarte (protect 
throughout) informed Econoffs that his stevedore company has 
not been allowed to remove equipment from the port for 
maintenance or weekend storage in what many believe is a 

CARACAS 00001181 002.2 OF 002 


precursor to the expropriation of stevedoring and other 
terminal services. Another contact whose company provided 
warehouse services at Puerto Cabello, directed Econoffs' 
attention to another company, Venezolana de Exportaciones y 
Importaciones, C.A. (VEXINCA), established by Decree No. 
38954 dated June 17, 2008. According to this contact, 
VEXINCA, which is run by the military as are the ports at 
this point, is actively offering customs services to the 
clients of private sector customs agents. Our contact 
speculates that VEXINCA may eventually be designated as the 
sole provider of customs services in Venezuela. 

INSURANCE AND OTHER RISKS 
------------------------- 

6. (C) Duarte informed Econoffs that insurance premiums have 
increased 35-40 percent since the May 2009 announcement of 
the Marine Committee of the Lloyd's Market Association that 
it had withdrawn maritime war-risk policy coverage for 
Venezuela. Other local shipping contacts have confirmed a 
bulletin that ran in a British shipping magazine in August 
noting that it may be difficult to make claims against 
Bolipuertos for robbery, damage etc. According to Duarte, 
Norweigan and Panamanian owned ships that used to bring soda 
ash to Venezuela have already been swapped out for older 
vessels with much smaller cargo capacity that cannot maintain 
the previous off-loading rate of 50,000 tons per day. Duarte 
also confirmed that the GBRV will have to pay a higher 
premium on refrigerated shipping containers to European and 
Brazilian firms as Maersk will no longer send them to 
Venezuela as it has been unable to retrieve them in the past 
due to the chaos in the ports. It has also been reported that 
shipping line Hamburg Sud will no longer serve Venezuela. 
7. (C) COMMENT: Many observers note that decreased traffic 
arising from the global recession has saved Venezuela's ports 
from complete strangulation. The wilderness of stacked 
containers at the ports has improved. However, few here 
believe that the GBRV has the know-how or the logistical 
experience to manage the ports even with the assistance of 
Cuban advisors. There is speculation that some port 
operations may ultimately be handed over to friendly 
governments on a concessionary basis. 
DUDDY