Marinha do Iraque

[P44]

Iraqi Navy on Way to Independence, Official Says


(Source: US Department of Defense; issued March 19, 2007)



WASHINGTON --- Twenty-one vessels will soon be added to the Iraqi navy fleet, putting it another step closer to being operationally independent, officials said during a Baghdad news conference yesterday.

With a contract on the verge of completion, the Iraqi navy is the first of the country’s forces to use the Ministry of Defense’s procurement process with Iraqi money in purchasing major capital programs from foreign governments and commercial ventures.

“The Iraqi navy has come a long way since the end of the hostilities,” U.S. Navy Capt. Michael Zamesnik, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command liaison officer to Multinational Force Iraq, said “They were an organization that had been ravaged by the effects of the war, and they are making great strides to rebuild themselves.”

Zamesnik said that the force is making positive steps and continuing to grow in the areas of equipment, training, manning and procurement. Iraqi naval installations are going under massive modernization efforts to build roads, utilities and barracks in addition to the reconstruction of piers to support the incoming vessels, he said. By 2010, 15 patrol boats, four patrol ships, and two off-shore support vessels will be added to the current fleet of fast attack boats and Predator-class ships.

“They have a 24-hour capability, are armed for self-defense, and I would say the Iraqi navy is considering these to be the jewel in the crown of their future fleet,” British Navy Cmdr. Paul Marshall, Royal Navy advisor, said.

“Any navy in the world would be proud to have an acquisition program that increases capability by that amount within such a short time scale,” Marshall said.

He said that the Iraqi government shows a lot of commitment and faith in the program by supporting it with resources and policies. The Iraqi waterways will continue to become safer with the increased number and skills of personnel, as well, he said.

Four battalions of Iraqi marines are being trained to provide all-point defense for the oil platforms, while navy diver platoons are being developed for maintenance on ships and platforms.

The Iraqi navy will take sole responsibility to ensure the security and protection of territorial waters and key infrastructure within its area of responsibility and to counter terrorism, smuggling and illegal activity at sea.

British Navy Capt. Tony Radakin, commander of the Naval Transition Team at Umm Qasr Naval Base, said that a recent coalition commander referred to the Iraqi patrol boats as one of his best assets. “That’s simply because of their understanding of local waters, their ability to help shepherd any (Arab ships) that might be coming too close to the oil platforms, and to do that probably a lot more effectively than some of the coalition ships,” he said.

The performance of the Iraqi navy and marines is “actually very good,” Radakin said.

He attributed the recent decrease in piracy and oil smuggling in area waterways to current navy efforts. He also said that the heightened visibility of the navy has created safe waterways for the major commercial ports that have led to quadruple increases in port revenues.

“The Iraqi navy is a story of success,” Zamesnik said. “They’ve done a very solid job of rebuilding. I know it will continue, along with coalition assistance.”

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[P44]

Iraq – Coastal Patrol Boats, Offshore Support Vessels


(Source: US Defense Security Cooperation Agency; dated Dec. 10, web-posted Dec. 11, 2008)



WASHINGTON --- On Dec. 9, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of (20) 30-35meter Coastal Patrol Boats and (3) 55-60 meter Offshore Support Vessels as well as associated equipment and services.

The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $1.010 billion.

The Government of Iraq has requested a possible sale of (20) 30-35meter Coastal Patrol Boats and (3) 55-60 meter Offshore Support Vessels, each outfitted with the Seahawk MS1-DS30MA2 mount using a 30 x 173mm CHAIN gun and short range Browning M2-HB .50 cal machine gun, spare and repair parts, weapon system software, support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $1.010 billion.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country. This proposed sale directly supports the Iraq government and serves the interests of the Iraq people and the U.S.

The sale of these patrol boats and support vessels will enhance the ability of the Iraqi naval forces to sustain themselves in their efforts to bring stability to their country, prevent overflow of unrest into neighboring countries, and protect their maritime oil platforms and territorial waters.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor is unknown at this time, however, acquisition is subject to FAR and DFARS domestic sourcing requirements. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this sale will require the assignment of two contractor representatives in Iraq for a period of 8 years.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.

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http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cgi-bi ... le=release

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Iraq Receives First of 4 Italian Patrol Boats



ROME - Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri on May 15 handed over the first of four patrol vessels it is building for the Iraqi Navy under an 80 million euro ($108.7 million) contract signed in 2006. The vessel, called the Fateh, was built at Fincantieri's Riva Trigoso yard and delivered at a ceremony at the firm's La Spezia yard attended by Gen. Babaker Baderkhan Al Zibari, the Iraqi defense chief of staff. The other three vessels will be delivered in three-month intervals.

Fincantieri said in a statement that the Fateh will immediately start patrol work in Iraq's 58-kilometer Exclusive Economic Zone, as well as carry out research and salvage work, ship inspections and firefighting. The four vessels together will form the core of the Iraqi Navy, the company added.

The vessels, based on Diciotti-class vessels built for the Italian Coast Guard, have a crew of 38, measure 53 meters by 8 meters, and have a top speed of 23 knots. Propulsion has been supplied by Italian firm Isotta Franchini.

The contract includes logistics support and crew training, which will be undertaken with the support of the Italian Navy.

http://www.militarium.eu/article.aspx?ID=2093

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Pentagon Contract Announcement


(Source: U.S Department of Defense; issued September 25, 2009)



Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC, Morgan City, La., is being awarded a $180,998,189 fixed-price letter contract for the detail design and construction of nine patrol boats and associated equipment and services for the Iraq Navy.

This contract is in support of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Case IQ –P-SAZ and U.S. Case E4-P-LBT.

The contract is for nine Swiftships model 35PB1208E-1455 patrol boats along with six 30mm gun weapons systems, machine gun mounts and cradles, spare parts, and contractor engineering technical services.

Work will be performed in Morgan City, La., (60 percent), Detroit, Mich., (30 percent), Ocean Springs, Miss., (8 percent) and Charlottesville, Va., (2 percent) and is expected to be completed by August 2012. Funding in the amount of $129,104,173 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured.

The Naval Sea Systems Command is the contracting activity (N00024-09-C-2256).

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