By
LCDR Simon Bateman & Graham Davis
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ABBM
Budge and LSBM Perez on a boat patrol from HMAS Newcastle.
In the heat and humidity of a Persian Gulf summer, boarding
operations are very arduous for all, from the boarding parties
to those in command. Photo by LSPH Kaye Adams
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Shades
of Harry Potter a different Firebolt involved. USS Firebolt
alongside HMAS Newcastle for refuelling. Firebolt is a patrol
boat on interdiction duty in the northern Gulf. The duty
includes the boarding of all vessels that enter and depart
Iraqi ports to ensure that no illegal cargo is being carried
in contravention of United Nations Resolution 1483.
Photo by LSPH Kaye Adams
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The
war in Iraq might be over but the workload for Australia’s
maritime contribution to the Coalition, HMAS Newcastle (CAPT Gerry
Christian), has certainly not waned.
In her first 21-day patrol in The Gulf her ship’s company
did 99 boardings. Two factors are creating the tempo - a decision
by traditional oil smuggling cartels to restart operations and
the need for Coalition warships to protect Iraq’s only offshore
oil loading terminal, Mina Al Bakh (MABOT) - a facility through
which a third of the country’s legal oil exports flow.
The work being done by Newcastle is very similar to pre-war activity
forming part of the Coalition effort to enforce maritime security
in Iraqi territorial waters, one of the main aims of Op Catalyst.
This enforcement includes the boarding of all vessels that enter
and depart Iraqi ports to ensure that no illegal cargo is being
carried in contravention of United Nations Resolution 1483.
Another important facet of the operation is the provision of a
visible security presence in the vicinity of the oil terminal
MABOT.
With the regular disruptions to the oil pipelines in the north
this terminal holds significant strategic value.
The emergence of normality in Iraq has seen an age-old problem
rear its head, that of illegal oil exports.
With the re-opening of the Shat-Al-Arab waterway, small tankers
and cargo dhows are embarking oil in the port of Abu Flus and
taking it to the UAE where it is sold at a profit.
This trade is having a detrimental effect on the economy in southern
Iraq where one of the main sources of frustration is the lack
of power and oil.
In the heat and humidity of a Persian Gulf summer, boarding operations
are very arduous for all, from the boarding parties to command.
The difficulties often start with the initial interrogation of
a vessel.
This is generally done on a congested VHF channel in broken English.
The operation continues with often-long distances travelled by
Newcastle’s boarding party as they seek out their target
vessel.
They then have to deal with a Master who is very cagey and intent
in getting his perhaps illegal cargo through.
Based on the boarding officer’s recommendation a hard decision
then has to be made by Command as to whether to clear or detain
the vessel.
If the decision is to detain, the vessel will be directed to a
holding area to be processed.
As it may be in that area for a number of days, the Coalition
vessels then have the responsibility to conduct health and comfort
checks on the vessel to ensure the crew remains well.
All these activities make for a busy and long day in The Gulf.
Newcastle has performed admirably during her first patrol.
Recently she hosted CAPT J Peterson USN, the officer responsible
for all Maritime Interdiction Operations in the northern Gulf.
He said Newcastle’s performance thus far had been outstanding.
During his time in Newcastle, he picked up some cricket terms
and remarked despite being 99 not out, Newcastle has certainly
improved the average.
