Two oil smuggling dhows turned back by boarding parties from HMAS Canberra on June 3 tried again the next day to breach the UN sanction blockade in The Gulf.

... they didn't make it. HMAS Canberra was waiting.

A few days later another ship tried to run the blockade and again the warship's boarders went into action.

This time the sailors encountered extensive passive defences (hatches and doors welded shut).

They were, however able to take control of the vessel.

A search found she was carrying illegal oil and as a result was turned back to her last port of call.

The boardings by Canberra were just part of an action packed deployment since earlier this year by the trio of RAN warships committed to maintaining the UN sanctions against Iraq and preventing the sale of contraband the sale of which could be used to purchase weapons of mass destruction.

Currently serving with Canberra are Manoora and Newcastle.

They are part of a coalition Maritime Interception Force.

An Australian alternates with a US Navy officer commanding the task group.

The RAN and coalition ships have effectively closed down smuggling operations in the Persian Gulf according to Maritime Command.

Newcastle has been in The Gulf since February being joined by the others in March.

All three ships have experienced great success as a result of their high levels of preparation.

In recent weeks suspected smuggler vessels have tried to break out through the waterway between Kuwait and Iraq.

In the first two weeks of June the RAN ships did three non-compliant and 18 compliant boardings.

Canberra was particularly busy.

On Monday June 3 a convoy of seven dhows was seen sailing from Iraqi waters.

Canberra's boarding parties sped to the scene, boarded and searched the seven vessels.

Six were found to be carrying illegal oil and were turned back to Iraq.

The next day a second convoy of seven dhows, including two from the previous day, tried to breach the blockade.

All were boarded, six were found to carry illegal oil and they were sent back.

Canberra's efforts meant that 2000 metric tonnes of crude oil did not make it out of Iraq.

June 5 saw the FFG's boarding parties dispatched quickly to check a single vessel.

It was found to carry contraband and was diverted to a holding area for further checks.

June 6 saw the boarding parties check a vessel that did not want to be checked.

Extensive passive defences were in place.

They were breached by the Australian sailors, illegal oil found and the ship sent back to its last port of call.

By Graham Davis