The joint operation involved the Iraqi Army, the Iraqi Coastguard, 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines and soldiers from A Company 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment. They were looking for weapons and ammunition smuggled in support of the militant elements operating in the area.
The Iraqi Forces led the operation with the UK personnel acting in a monitoring and mentoring role.
The Shatt Al Arab waterway is frequently used as a smuggling route for arms and ammunition, some of which is used against British Troops serving in Basra.
As well as looking for actual weapons and ammunition the operation served as a deterrent to smugglers who use this part of the waterway.
The operation was carried out in a mainly Sunni area of the city and the troops involved met with no direct hostility during the search, which lasted most of an afternoon.
Search teams from 1 Yorks, the Royal Marines and the Iraqi Coastguard searched a large number of vessels in the boatyard and during the operation the Iraqi coastguard also investigated reports of a discovery of weapons in a different part of the waterway.
No weapons were actually found in the operation but it showed how competent the Iraqi Forces have become, as Captain Ben Braithwaite, 2nd in Command of A Company 1 Yorks, said:
"Operations such as this prove the competence of the Coastguard and the Inland Waterways Department, along with the Iraqi Army and Customs Police to work together and co-operate between themselves.
"It's also important that Multi-National Forces work closely with them but allow them the space and freedom to take the lead in these operations with a view to them taking control in the future."
The Iraqi Coastguard is now making a substantial commitment to security on the waterway and along with efforts made by the Iraqi Army their role in these types of operations is frequently more active.