Al Basrah Oil Terminal 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.