HMAS Arunta on watch in The Gulf as one of her RHIBS prepares to board a dhow. She has performed over 50 boardings since her arrival, ten of them non-compliant. Dhows found with illegal cargo are returned to Iraqi waters. Smugglers have taken to filling 44-gallon drums with crude oil and sending them on small vessels to try and avoid detection by Australian ships.

HMAS Arunta has found herself facing what seems to be a concerted export drive underway from Iraq to the outside world.

In the first two weeks after arriving on station in The Gulf the frigate boarded 50 cargo vessels coming down the waterway. Ten of them were non-compliant.

It is not only oil that ships' masters are trying to get past Coalition forces upholding UN sanctions against Iraq. Many are carrying golden dates, worth up to $US1000 a bag and as many as 2000 bags a load.

The smallest ship in the team Arunta is working with HMAS Melbourne, HMS Argyll and other assets, mainly at night and in temperatures of up to 45 degrees, to stop the flow of illegal cargoes from Iraq.

In one incident on July 22 Arunta and Argyll prevented a breakout of 20 cargo dhows.

In two waves and over six hours, the two ships boarded and checked the dhows.

Arunta's 180 ship's company mustered three Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) and four boarding parties and boarded 12 dhows.

They found 2070 metric tonnes of illegal oil and 175 tonnes of golden dates.

All contraband-carrying vessels were ordered back to Iraq, the others were permitted to continue.

In her third week on patrol Arunta conducted 18 boardings, finding a further 2300 tonnes of contraband oil and 380 tonnes of dates.

Meanwhile, Melbourne, fresh from shore leave, has also been kept busy.

In recent days her boarding parties have carried out several inspections, discovering illegal cargoes and sending the dhows back to Iraqi waters.

By Graham Davis