A view from the bridge of a civilian tanker as personnel fast-rope from a Sea King while in the Gulf.

HMAS Kanimbla's Sea King and her two high-speed RHIBs were needed when the 8,450-tonne LPA had a job-and-a-half in the Gulf last month - to round up 16 large trading dhows.

Likened to an 'aerial jackeroo' and two 'cattle dogs' the helicopter and boats had to supervise and put boarding parties on to the craft, then spread over 10 kilometres.

The convoy of 16 exited the waterway between Iraq and Kuwait on February 22 and headed south into the Northern Arabian Gulf.

The Sea King launched and went to what was believed to have been the lead ship of the dhow convoy.

When the craft failed to respond, the RAN decided to stop the convoy and board and inspect all 16. The dhows were found to be carrying oil and dates, both of which are contraband under United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Following the checks all vessels were ordered to reverse course and go back to Iraq.

By mid-afternoon the entire convoy had been inspected and turned around.

With boarding parties back on board and with Kanimbla in close escort, the convoy began motoring to its port of origin.

The interception and boarding of the 16 vessels by Kanimbla as a single ship, is believed to have been the largest single interception since the UN sanction program began.

The importance of the work being done by the RAN in the Arabian Gulf can be highlighted as it is believed that the profits accumulated by these smugglers often go into the coffers of terrorist organisations.

By stopping the smugglers, the Navy is stopping the flow of illegal money that funds terrorism.

Story by Graham Davis