Al Basrah News

Sterling Global Operations (SGO) has been chosen to provide surface - supplied divers for unexploded ordnance search and removal and salvage operations for the sunken 82,000-ton Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Amuriyah, an Iraqi tanker sunk near Bubiyan Island off the coast of Kuwait in Jan. 1991 during Operation Desert Storm. Special Diving Services (SDS) Holland hired SGO for this project. "For years SGO has conducted major demining and unexploded ordnance clearance projects in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries around the world," said Matt Hulsey, SGO vice president of programs.

On Sept. 30, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Europe and Southwest Asia (NAVFAC EURSWA) awarded an $11.5 million contract modification for the Al Basrah (ABOT) and Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT) transfer platforms, located in the off the Iraqi shoreline. Work will include constructing a communications tower and installing generators on ABOT, as well as providing crane services and making structural repairs. Follow-on work early in FY09 will construct Containerized Living Units (CLUs) on ABOT to improve overall living conditions. URS-IAP LLC, of , was awarded a Design-Build Construction Modification 05 to task order N62470-06-D-6009-0003 of the Global Contingency Construction (GCC) contract for the Design-Build of Repairs and Improvements to ABOT and KAAOT.

Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 arrived to oil terminals located off the coast of Aug. 23 to work on living conditions and improve platform access. Few Seabees have had the opportunity of working on oil terminals, which are huge suppliers of the exported oil. Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT) and Al Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT) are located in the northern . "It's kind of cool knowing that we are working on something that is so important to the world's economy," said Utilitiesman 2nd Class (SCW) Jason Grubbs. and coalition maritime forces provide assistance to the Iraqi Navy defending 's major oil platforms. These terminals are significant sources of Iraqi government revenue and contribute approximately 80 percent of 's gross domestic product.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) issued a Notice stating that mariners should exercise extreme caution when operating in the vicinity of Iraq’s Khawr al Amaya and al Basrah offshore oil terminals, which were recently attacked unsuccessfully by terrorists. Coalition maritime forces will continue to take all steps necessary to provide robust security for Iraqi resources. (HK Law)

The U.S. Maritime Liaison Office (MARLO) issued an Advisory stating that an exclusion zone has been established in Iraqi waters within 2,000 meters of the Khawr al Amaya and al Basrah offshore oil terminals. In addition, the right of innocent passage has been temporarily suspended in the same waters. Only oil tankers and support vessels authorized by terminal operators or coalition maritime security forces are allowed to enter the exclusion zones. Vessels attempting to enter the exclusion zones without authorization may be subject to defensive measures, including use of deadly force. Warning zones have also been established extending 3,000 meters from the outer edge of the two oil terminals. MARLO Advisory 06-04 (HK Law).

A U.S. Marine stands security watch on the deck of the Al Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT). U.S. Marines from the 1st Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FAST) Battalion, of Norfolk, Va., are providing extra security along with the Iraqi security teams after an attempted suicide attack on Iraqi oil terminals on April 25th. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Alan D. Monyelle. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet is taking further steps to increase…

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Josh Cassatt, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet and Royal Australian Navy Commodore Allan du Toit, commander, Combined Task Force (CTF) 158, visited Iraq's Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT) Nov. 16, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the implementation of facility upgrades. The most significant improvement on KAAOT was the installation of the Tactical Operations Center (TOC), which will serve as a permanent centralized command and control location to enhance Coalition coordination.

Rear Adm. Garry E. Hall relieved Royal Navy Commodore Nick Lambert as commander of Combined Task Force (CTF) 158 and Capt. Paul Severs relieved Royal Navy Capt. Bob Sanguinetti as commander of Combined Task Group (CTG) 158.1 on July 17 aboard Ocean 6, an afloat forward operating barge in the north Persian Gulf. Command of CTF 158 typically rotates among coalition partners Australia, United Kingdom, and the United States. CTF 158 is comprised of coalition ships and its primary mission in the Gulf is maintaining security in and around both the Al Basrah and Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminals -- ABOT and KAAOT, respectively -- in support of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1723.

As the sun-sets over the Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT), another day passes safely under the watchful eye of masters-at-arms assigned to Mobile Security Detachment Two Five (MSD-25). MSD-25 members are currently training the Iraqi military on proper watch standing and security procedures during their six-month deployment to the Iraqi oil terminals. Mobile Security Detachment Two Five is combining efforts with coalition forces under the flag of Commander Task Force Five Eight (CTF-58) in support of maritime security operations (MSO) by standing security watches on KAAOT and Al Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT). U.S. From U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. Two U.S.

USS Howard (DDG 83) completed conducting maritime security operations (MSO) on Feb. 28 for Combined Task Force 158 in the North Persian Gulf in support of U.S. 5th Fleet. Howard, along with other coalition ships, guarded Iraq’s Al Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT) and the Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT) off the southern coast of Iraq. As a part of the USS Boxer (LHD 4) Expeditionary Strike Group (BOXESG), Howard was responsible for coordinating MSO around the Al Basrah oil platform. MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the North Persian Gulf and protect Iraq’s sea-based infrastructure, which provides the Iraqi people the opportunity for self-determination.

Mobile Security Detachment (MSD) 71 concluded a successful six-month deployment here Oct. 1, in which it provided security for Iraq’s Al Basrah (ABOT) and Khawr Al Amaya (KAAOT) oil terminals. The Guam-based Sailors, who are part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 158, worked closely with the Iraqi marines, also stationed aboard the oil terminals, to secure the waters surrounding the oil platforms. MSD 71 Sailors provide Iraqi marines with close-in point defense operations training and other effective security techniques. This intensive training is designed to train the Iraqis to eventually protect the oil platforms and territorial waters without oversight or support from coalition forces.

Combined Task Force (CTF) 158 command and control center’s afloat forward staging base, known as Ocean 6, conducted maritime security operations (MSO) in the North Persian Gulf with USS Boxer (LHD 4) Expeditionary Strike Group (BOXESG), Nov. 21-24. Ocean 6, a converted civilian barge, is a central command and control hub for MSO in the North Persian Gulf. U.S. Sailors assigned to Ocean 6 coordinate all MSO activity with coalition ships in the North Persian Gulf. Its primary mission is the protection of Iraq’s oil platforms by coordinating U.S. and coalition forces for optimum defense, tactical operations and intelligence gathering in the region.

Forward deployed Sailors attached to Mobile Security Detachment (MSD) 71 are currently deployed to Iraq’s two critical oil platforms, the Al Basrah (ABOT) and Khawr Al Amaya (KAAOT) oil terminals, conducting maritime security operations (MSO). As a part of Commander, Task Force (CTF) 158, MSD 71, based in Guam, arrived on station April 9 to train and work alongside Iraqi marines in point defense operations of the oil terminals. “We act in a Military Training Team mode and oversee their day-to-day operations to ensure that they’re securing the platforms in accordance with the procedures established for the inner defense layer of the terminals,” said Lt. Cmdr. Kenneth Miller, MSD 71 officer in charge.