DTN News: Fincantieri ~ The “Nasir” Delivered In Muggiano, Second Of Four Patrol Vessels For The Iraqi Navy

DTN News: Fincantieri ~ The “Nasir” Delivered In Muggiano, Second Of Four Patrol Vessels For The Iraqi Navy *Source: DTN News / Fincantieri (NSI News Source Info) Muggiano, La Spezia SP, Italia - October 12, 2009: On October 8, at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Muggiano (La Spezia) there was the delivery ceremony for the second of four patrol vessels ordered by the Iraqi Navy from Fincantieri. The order, worth overall 80 million Euros, also comprises the provision of logistical support and crew training for each vessel. Representing Iraq at the ceremony was the Secretary General of the Ministry of the Defence, General Saleh Sarhan, while Italy was represented by the Director General for Naval Constructions and Armaments, Chief Inspector Admiral Dino Nascet on behalf of the Chief of Staff of the Navy. Fincantieri was represented by the Director of the Naval Vessels Unit, Alberto Maestrini. Sister to the “Fateh” which was delivered last May, the “Nasir” (which means “Victory”) will be escorted to the Suez Canal by Italian Navy vessels and then to Umm Qasr by U.S. Navy vessels for a voyage to the Persian Gulf of approximately one month. On reaching Iraqi territory the “Nasir” will immediately start patrolling the Exclusive Economic Zone (58 km of coastline rich in oil fields, the country’s main economic resource), search and rescue operations, controlling maritime traffic and firefighting. The next vessel is scheduled for delivery at the end of the year. These “Saettia MK4” class vessels have been developed from the ships built by Fincantieri for the Italian Coast Guard (five “Diciotti” class vessels) and for the Armed Forces of Malta (one vessel) and will constitute the core of the patrol fleet of the Iraqi Navy with tasks similar to those of the Italian Coast Guard. 53.40 metres long and 8 wide, these vessels can reach a speed of 23 knots and accommodate a crew of 38. The Italian Naval Register is supervising construction of the vessels in accordance with strict international standards regarding safety and respect for the environment. Fincantieri also directly supplies the naval systems and components manufactured at the company’s facilities in Bari and Riva Trigoso, such as: propulsion apparatus (Isotta Fraschini V1716T2MSD 2360 kW engines, shafts and variable pitch propellors), and generators (Isotta Fraschini L1306T3ME 220 kW generators) and stabilising systems.

DTN News: Iraqi Navy Takes Delivery Of 1st Patrol Ship

DTN News: Iraqi Navy Takes Delivery Of 1st Patrol Ship *Sources: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) UMM QASR, Iraq - June 21, 2009: Iraq took delivery June 20 of the first of four Italian-made patrol ships it has ordered, as part of a plan to treble the country's naval forces in the coming years. In 2006, the new Iraqi Navy signed a contract with the Italian Government to purchase 4 modified Diciotti class vessels to patrol its 58kilometre coast line. The vessels are to be built by Fincantieri at Riva Trigoso, with modifications including increased crew capacity of 38. The contract also comprises the provision of logistical support and crew training with each crew completing a 7 week training course. In cooperation with the Marina Militare (Italian Navy), each commissioning crew is provided with a week’s bridge simulator course at the Academy in Livorno. *In May 2009, the first vessel, Patrol Ship 701 named Fatah, was handed over at the Muggiano, La Spezia shipyard. The crew hand been training since January 2009, and would now be heading for Umm Qasr, a 20 day/5,000 nautical miles journey via the Mediterranean, Suez Canal and Red Sea. There, additional training will be completed, before the vessel takes over duties from the British Royal Marine patrols, who will then revert to a training role of new crew. Iraq's navy is rebuilding itself after being destroyed in the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 US-led invasion. It now has about 2,000 sailors, and defense chiefs have said they aim to boost its manpower to 6,500 in the next two to three years. The Fatah, which can mean to conquer or victory in Arabic, is a Saettia MK4-class fast patrol ship that will be used to patrol Iraq's economic zone and in search-and-rescue missions. It set sail after its completion at the Fincantieri shipyard in La Spezia, Italy, a month ago, with three other such fast patrol boats due to be delivered at a rate of one every three months. The four ships are worth $110 million, with each measuring some 177 feet (54 meters) long, weighing 390 tons, and attaining a speed of 23 knots with crews of 38. The Fatah was escorted variously by Italian, American and British warships during its journey through the Mediterranean Sea, the Suez Canal, the pirate-filled waters of the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Hormuz, officials said. The long voyage from Italy was be the first time the new navy has traveled outside Arabian waters, and is the first such journey for the force in decades.

DTN News: Three Royal Naval Ships Deploy To Iraq And Africa

DTN News: Three Royal Naval Ships Deploy To Iraq And Africa

(NSI News Source Info) LONDON - June 2, 2009: Two Royal Navy ships deployed today and one last week on three separate operations to Iraq, the Horn of Africa and West Africa. HMS Kent

HMS Kent is a Type 23 Duke class frigate of the British Royal Navy, and the twelfth ship to bear the name. HMS Kent's lineage boasts sixteen Battle Honours from the three given to the first Kent of 46 guns built in 1653, to the five awarded to the ninth and tenth Kents of World War I and World War II. Sponsored by HRH Princess Alexandra, HMS Kent was launched on 28 May 1998. Built by BAE Systems Marine (formerly Marconi Marine) at Scotstoun in Scotland, she was commissioned on 8 June 2000 and was the first ship to enter Royal Navy service in the 21st Century. She is currently based in Portsmouth under the command of Commander Hopper.* HMS Kent - one of the Royal Navy's advanced Type 23 frigates, sailed from Portsmouth Naval Base today, Monday 1 June 2009, for Iraq where she will be supporting the UK's ongoing commitment to promoting stability in the Middle East. Type 22 frigate HMS Cumberland deployed from Plymouth on 25 May 2009 on its second visit to the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa where she will contribute to a range of maritime security operations including counter-smuggling (arms and drugs), counter-terrorism and counter-piracy.

The Royal Naval survey ship HMS Enterprise also left Plymouth today for at least two years on an extended deployment to West Africa and plans to spend three months in the region before transiting through the Mediterranean to begin operations east of Suez later in the year.

HMS Kent - In the past few months HMS Kent's 174 sailors have been preparing to ensure she is ready to deploy away from the UK for approximately six months, with every member involved with the maintenance, trials and training packages required to ensure that she is able to sustain operations around the world. The ship's primary mission is in the Gulf, assisting the Iraqis in maintaining security around the oil terminals. Although the reduction of UK forces in Iraq progresses, the Royal Navy continues to provide security for Iraq's offshore energy infrastructure and territorial integrity, as well as providing training for the Iraqi Navy. HMS Kent's Commanding Officer, Commander Simon Hopper, said: "My team has worked extremely hard to prepare for what is the Royal Navy's core business, deploying operational warships around the world. Our role in Op Telic is crucial to supporting the recovery of the Iraqi economy and promoting greater peace and stability in the region. "I am also very proud to be representing the UK's wider interests abroad, fostering relationships with our global partners over the next six months." HMS Cumberland HMS Cumberland (F85) is a Type 22 frigate of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1986 and commissioned on 10 June 1989. The frigate was on station during the First Gulf War. Cumberland is part of the sixth frigate squadron and is part of the Devonport Flotilla based at Devonport Dockyard. HMS Cumberland - Since returning to the UK in December 2008, HMS Cumberland has undergone significant maintenance work on her propulsion and weapons systems and received an upgrade to her seaboats. Once this was completed, the ship undertook a six-week trials and training period to ensure that she is prepared to the highest level to undertake this current operation. Speaking before the deployment, HMS Cumberland's Commanding Officer, Captain David Dutton OBE, said: "Cumberland is well prepared for this deployment. We are going to an area recognised internationally as one of the most unstable parts of the world. "However, the UK is committed to maintaining a national and coalition presence in the region and all of us in Cumberland are looking forward to and ready to face the challenges ahead." Cumberland is contributing to a range of maritime security operations which include counter-smuggling (arms and drugs), counter-terrorism and counter-piracy. Cumberland's newly-installed Pacific 24 rigid hull inflatable boats are key to these roles and will allow the ship's embarked Royal Marines and Royal Navy boarding teams, in conjunction with the ship's Lynx aircraft, to intercept and board any vessels suspected of being involved in these activities. HMS Enterprise HMS Enterprise (H88), the tenth ship to bear this name, is a multi-role Survey Vessel - Hydrographic Oceanographic (SVHO) of the Royal Navy. She has a sister ship, HMS Echo. Built by Appledore Shipbuilders under the prime contractor Vosper Thornycroft, Enterprise was launched on 27 April 2002, officially named by the ship's sponsor, Lady Sally Forbes, at her naming ceremony on 2 May 2002, and commissioned 18 October 2003. Enterprise is designed to collect an array of military hydrographic and oceanographic data both on and off the continental shelf, and to support mine warfare and amphibious operations. She is designed and built to Lloyd's Naval Ship Rules. HMS Enterprise - This will be HMS Enterprise's second two-year stint since coming into service. The previous deployment took the ship to Africa, round the Cape of Good Hope, and through the Indian Ocean and the Straits of Hormuz into the Gulf before heading home via the Mediterranean. Since returning early last year, the ship has undergone significant maintenance and upgrade work. She has also completed operational sea training with staff of the Flag Officer Sea Training organisation, culminating in her contribution to the NATO exercise, Joint Warrior, off the coast of West Scotland last month. Commander Adam James, the Commanding Officer of HMS Enterprise, said: "HMS Enterprise is well prepared for this deployment. We will be travelling to some potentially unstable parts of the world and we are ready in all respects to face the challenges ahead. There remains a lot of work to be done in the coastal regions of West Africa and this is also a prime opportunity to enhance defence relations in this part of the world." Once on-station the ship will begin her task of assuring freedom of navigation for military and civilian mariners by using her bathymetric and oceanographic operations. She will therefore ensure access to those parts of the world the UK has an interest in while enhancing defence relations and promoting the wider interests of the UK. HMS Enterprise is an Echo Class survey vessel launched in 2003. She is a watch rotation ship which means she will stay away from her homeport for the whole of the two years with crews relieved direct from the UK, enabling her to benefit from no breaks in her programme. The crew numbers 75 men and women, with about 50 on board at any one time. This class is designed for military oceanographic and water-profile data-gathering using multi-beam sonars. She is armed with guns.

Royal Navy Continues Training Iraqi Navy

Royal Navy Continues Training Iraqi Navy

(NSI News Source Info) April 18, 2009: The withdrawal of British combat troops from Iraq has already begun and by 31 July 2009 the vast bulk of British Armed Forces will have all left the country. Except that is, a small group of Royal Naval personnel.The crew of an Iraqi Navy fast attack boat undergoes training in the approaches to Umm Qasr[Picture: LA(Phot) Chris Winter] The naval personnel will be staying in southern Iraq to train the fledgling Iraqi Navy who have a task essential to the country's future economic development; protecting the country's oil network and main port of Umm Qasr. The port of Umm Qasr is gradually growing into a thriving area of commerce as it fulfils its role as Iraq's only deepwater quay facility. The port operates 24-hours-a-day and hundreds of containers are being shipped from the area with thousands of trucks daily coming in and out of the port area. Located close to the Kuwaiti border, Umm Qasr receives 80 per cent of the country's imports. The port is therefore also home to the Iraqi Navy which as well as protecting the port traffic has the vital role of protecting the country's two oil terminals out in the Gulf. These generate around 90 per cent of Iraq's income. British troops are currently based at two camps in Umm Qasr. One of the two sites will be handed over to the Americans at the end of this month, but UK military personnel are likely to remain at the second camp until at least 2011 where a British-led Naval Training Team, currently consisting of 55 British and 25 US personnel, will continue its work mentoring the Iraqi Navy. Naval Training Team trains members of the Iraqi Navy to carry out correct boarding procedures [Picture: LA(Phot) Chris Winter] The Iraqi Navy has been working hard to improve the safety and security of the port, their offshore oil infrastructure and Iraq's territorial waters, and while at present coalition forces protect the two oil terminals in the Gulf, known as KAAOT and ABOT, on-platform defence of KAAOT is expected to be handed over to the Iraqis at the end of this month. The Iraqi Navy has around 2,000 personnel, including Marines, and has grown and improved significantly since the 2003 invasion. Royal Navy Captain Richard Ingram, head of the coalition naval advisory team in Umm Qasr, said their progress had been "pretty dramatic", but added: "There's still a lot to achieve." Security has not been a problem at the oil terminals since April 2004, when a failed attack was launched on KAAOT, but it is still taken extremely seriously. British soldiers from The Queen's Royal Hussars currently patrol around Umm Qasr port wearing soft hats and without body armour, although they still carry weapons. But they will hand over responsibility for the port's security to the increasingly professional 2nd Battalion of the Iraqi Marines and return home at the end of this month. An engineer on board Royal Navy minesweeper HMS Chiddinfold discusses the Hunt Class vessel's propulsion system with his Iraqi counterpart [Picture: LA(Phot) Chris Winter] Royal Navy Captain Graham Charlesworth, who advises the port on development, said: "We're not blasé about security. We've adopted this posture because that's what the threat assessment says pertains to this port. We are not just cavalier about it." Colonel Jamal, the Iraqi Marines 2nd Battalion's commanding officer said the security situation had improved "from zero to 70 per cent" since a major Iraqi Army-led operation against militias in Basra last year known as Charge of the Knights - and to "80 per cent" at Umm Qasr.He described the port as an "artery" feeding all of Iraq, adding: "I am happy because the port of Umm Qasr belongs to all Iraqis and the investment that comes in the future is going to help Iraq's development and reduce unemployment." The Iraqi Government has asked for the Royal Navy-led training team to stay in the country after the bulk of the British troops pull out over the summer.

Iraqi Marines practise vessel board, search and seizure techniques [Picture: LA(Phot) Chris Winter] The port's capacity is increasing by 20 per cent a year, and it handled imports of 7.5m tonnes in 2008. Major projects to dredge the port and remove wrecks will enable it to take more large vessels in the future. While it is primarily a commercial port, it also has a passenger terminal and a ferry from Dubai runs to Umm Qasr twice a week. British Defence Secretary John Hutton highlighted the importance of the port earlier this year, saying: "The UK and our coalition partners are working with the Iraqi authorities to develop the port and it is one of the key areas in which international companies are looking to invest." With the British mentoring of the Iraqi Navy set to continue, the economic lifeline of southern Iraq should become ever more secure.