HMS Cornwall arrives in the Gulf
12 Mar 07
HMS Cornwall has taken up station to defend Iraq's oil industry in the North Arabian Gulf, forming part of the Royal Navy's on-going commitment to the area.
![HMS Cornwall [Picture: LA (Phot) Jannine B Hartmann]](GenerateThumbnail.aspx?imageURL=/NR/rdonlyres/BE3D4158-0F28-414A-BCC4-C5E4A0550A54/0/Cornwall2.jpg&maxSize=210)
HMS Cornwall
[Picture: LA (Phot) Jannine B Hartmann]
The oil terminals, Al Basrah and Khawr Al Amaya (Abot and Kaaot respectively) are key to the survival of the Iraqi economy as they provide a significant proportion of the country's gross domestic product.
HMS Cornwall will take her place among a multinational naval force, including ships from the US Navy, US Coast Guard, Royal Australian Navy and the Iraqi Navy. The UK will take charge of this force, with Commodore Nick Lambert RN embarked in HMS Cornwall as Commander of Task Force 158. He will take over from Rear Admiral Garry Hall, United States Navy.
Commodore Lambert has a team of around 30 supporting staff to enable the control of maritime security operations within the Northern Arabian Gulf.
HMS Cornwall's commanding officer outlined the importance of HMS Cornwall's and the Royal Navy's role in this region. He said:
"I am proud to have the opportunity to be involved. This is my fourth tour in the Gulf and HMS Cornwall and my team have received extensive training to fulfil this vital role.
![HMS Cornwall (top) refuels from US supply ship, USNS Bridge [Picture: Royal Navy]](GenerateThumbnail.aspx?imageURL=/NR/rdonlyres/6911D5D1-242C-4384-B4E2-24D6FC574F42/0/cornwallrefuelsfromUSsupplyshipUSNSBridgemarch07.jpg&maxSize=210)
HMS Cornwall (top) refuels from US supply ship, USNS Bridge
[Picture: Royal Navy]
"I am delighted HMS Cornwall is also the flag ship for Commodore Lambert, providing him with a command platform from which he is able to control the multinational task force in this area."
As well as acting as the command ship for the task force staff, HMS Cornwall will also be one of a number of ships providing direct 24 hour-a-day protection to Iraq's two oil terminals just off its coast. This is a role the Royal Navy and coalition forces have fulfilled for the last three years.
HMS Cornwall will also play her part in maritime security operations which seek to deny, by board and search operations and by the general military presence, international terrorists using the sea for attacking or to smuggle personnel, weapons or other material.
Iraqi naval and security forces have been successfully integrated into maritime security operations and HMS Cornwall's personnel will be involved in helping to further train Iraqi naval units so that they can become self sufficient in the enforcement of Iraqi territorial waters.
The ship is also on immediate notice to assist any mariners in distress, provide humanitarian assistance and be ready to conduct combat operations in support of the troops ashore in Iraq.