Sunday, June 21, 2009

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.

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