Central Arabian Gulf News

Military Sealift Command oceanographic survey ship USNS John McDonnell was delivered to the Navy Inactive Ships Program in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for deactivation Aug. 25. Following the deactivation, MSC retains six Pathfinder-class oceanographic survey ships capable of surveying coastal regions and performing full ocean surveys. Construction of a new, more-capable survey ship, T-AGS 66, will start in October. McDonnell's deactivation comes as part of the effort to streamline survey operations. Unlike the Pathfinder class, which is capable of conducting both deep- and shallow-water scans, McDonnell was only equipped with the sensors to conduct shallow-water surveys.

MANAMA, Bahrain - While transiting north in international waters in the Central Arabian Gulf April 24 at approximately 8 a.m. local time, Motor Vessel Westward Venture was approached by two unidentified small boats. Following proper procedure, Westward Venture issued standard queries to the small boats via bridge-to-bridge radio, but received no response. Westward Venture then activated a flare, which also did not receive a response. The small boats continued toward Westward Venture and the ship's embarked security team fired warning shots. The small boats left the area. A short time later, Westward Venture received a query from a unit identifying itself as Iranian Coast Guard. It is not clear if this was one of the small boats or a separate boat. The query was routine and correct.

Military Sealift Command dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Sacagawea Boatswain's Mate Clarence Johnson (far left) and Medical Services Officer Paul Manning (third from right) helped rescue 10 Iraqi mariners (pictured) from the sinking coastal tanker MV Nadi February 22 in the Central Arabian Gulf. Military Sealift Command dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Sacagawea rescued 10 Iraqi citizens from a sinking 250-ft. coastal tanker in the Central Arabian Gulf Friday, February 22. The Bahrain…