IN PICTURES: RFA Sir Bedivere on station in the Gulf

RFA Sir Bedivere arrived in Iraqi territorial waters at the beginning of April 2007. Her primary role is to help train Iraqi naval personnel in the conducting of Maritime Security Operations. Such operations set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment and complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. They also deny illegal use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons, or other material.

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Captain Duncan Lamb, Sir Bedivere's Commanding Officer, describes a typical week for him and his crew whilst on station in the Gulf:

"0700 Sunday and the start of another week with the Al Basra Oil Terminal appearing out of the dust haze from about three miles away as Sir Bedivere approaches from her overnight patrol. First task of the day is to refuel a cyclone class US patrol boat. This is a task more normally associated with a specialist replenishment at sea (RAS) ship.

"At 0930 our main customers arrive, a crowd of bright orange lifejackets on the decks of an Iraqi patrol boat from Umm Qasr. The embarkation of over 50 Iraqi naval personnel, including a marine platoon and interpreter takes about 45 minutes. Also on the patrol boat are six mentors from the UK-led Naval Transition Team (NaTT) based in Umm Qasr and charged with training the Iraqi Navy to maintain security in Iraqi waters.

"Sir Bedivere has now become an international training platform. After safety briefings, and an explanation of the ground rules (in English and Arabic) the three Fast Aluminium Boats (FABs) stowed on the upper deck are checked, launched and the weekly training cycle begins."

Capable of carrying around 300 troops, their equipment and vehicles, Sir Bedivere's role is to provide logistic transport and afloat support to amphibious operations by the Royal Marines and Army. Lately she has also been used to support mine countermeasures vessels operating around the world:

"Monday, FABs away at 0800 for an assessed boarding exercise for the Iraqi Marines," Captain Lamb continued. "Command and control training for the Iraqi senior officers takes place on the bridge before they are sent to the frigates on station for practical ops room work. Meanwhile 12 Iraqi Midshipmen commence familiarisation tours of Sir Bedivere.

"Externally, Sir Bedivere is called in for a short period to patrol sectors around the Khawr al Amaya Oil Terminal. The Marines successfully complete their boarding exercise and are cleared by the local military commander to conduct tanker-boarding sweeps. With a number of tankers due in to the deep water anchorage during the course of the week, it is going to be busy.

"Tuesday, first boarding for the Iraqi Marines. On this occasion, they are tasked to lead with a boarding team from a coalition warship in support. Sir Bedivere is tasked as on-scene commander providing close support. 0700 briefings take place on the bridge, the VLCC is called and told to expect the boarding in one hour.

"FABs are launched, Sir Bedivere positions 500 yards off the anchored tanker and the boarding commences. The Master of the tanker takes in his stride a joint Australian and Iraqi boarding with US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) monitoring and a UK fleet auxiliary in attendance – the coalition in full swing!

"The boarding is completed without incident by late morning and Bedivere repositions to embark staff from the command barge before dashing south into international waters to rendezvous with a Kuwaiti patrol boat for a joint international exercise planning conference. The multi-national community on board broadens for a few hours.

"Wednesday, a leisurely start to the day with a mid-morning boarding of another tanker in the anchorage, this time our Iraqi Marines are on their own. Once completed, we return to the vicinity of the oil platforms in order to refuel the on-task Iraqi patrol boat and change their crew."

In the North Arabian Gulf, multinational forces work directly with Iraqi maritime forces to prevent attacks against oil terminals that provide a source of Iraq's revenue. Throughout the region, RN maritime forces provide assistance with training and intelligence sharing to its allies for the protection of key infrastructure nodes in the region. These key infrastructures form the foundation for much of the region's economic growth, stability and prosperity and can significantly impact upon the global economy:

Coalition maritime forces operate throughout international waters in the Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea, conducting MSO.

Originally entering service in 1967, RFA Sir Bedivere underwent a major Ship Life Extension Programme in the late '90s in Rosyth. During this period, she was radically altered and updated. Captain Lamb recognises that RFA Sir Bedivere's current role in the Gulf requires them to be flexible and able to adapt to constantly shifting priorities:

"It is a particularly busy day for dhows – lost count at well over 100 contacts on the six-mile [9.6km] radar range scale," he said. "Of more immediate concern are the two other coalition ships with which we are sharing the same 1.5 square mile [2km] box! Late afternoon and we head south clear of other shipping in order to conduct Iraqi Navy AK47 firings off the flight deck – possibly another first for the RFA.

"Thursday, another boarding for the Iraqi Marines, but with a (routine) VIP visit to keep us on our toes. The local naval commander has joined us to act as host. We usually see an Admiral or two, a few Commodores and the odd Major General interspersed with various high-ranking civilians during the course of a patrol.

"Friday and Saturday, disembarkation of Iraqi and NaTT personnel takes place on Friday morning and eventually, we have the ship to ourselves again. An opportunity to slink away to patrol the anchorage to the south, lick our wounds, do a little internal training and prepare for next week. Wrong!

"At 2200, we are called back to the north to take up patrol sectors around the Khawr al Amaya Oil Terminal to release a US warship to contain an oil spill 40 miles [64km] to the south.

"This task requires Sir Bedivere to keep the fishing dhows and skiffs clear of a zone around the terminal. Royal Navy armed force protection on deck is increased and all ship's defensive weapons are at immediate readiness. Various dhows push their luck and try to enter the sectors; they are warned on VHF, but without an interpreter on board (disembarked with the Iraqi Navy), this is not effective.

"Flashing light is similarly ignored, however, intercepting them at speed whilst sounding warnings on the ship's whistle usually does the trick. The US warship returns at 0600 on Sunday morning and we are released from sector patrol – just in time to start next week's training.

"Ma'a salaama – the end of another busy, but satisfying week in the Gulf. The ship conducts three-week patrols, followed by a standoff for 48 hours. It is a demanding routine in the heat of the Gulf summer and we would really appreciate a spot of cool, refreshing rain."