On guard: an Iraqi navy sailor stands to attention during the handover ceremony
Iraq's navy step up to protect oil exports
US and UK forces today handed over to the Iraqi navy the responsibility for protecting one of the country's crucial floating oil export terminals.
In a ceremony on the rusting Khor al-Amaya platform, which handles 10% of oil exports from the southern oil hub of Basra, the commander of Task Force Iraqi Maritime, Admiral Tom Cropper, lauded a "breakthrough" in Iraqi military independence.
The Khor al-Amaya floating oil terminal is by far the smaller of the two platforms serving Basra, and Cropper acknowledged that the decision to hand its security over first meant today's ceremony marked a small, initial step.
"In some ways it's a test case but it's also a significant milestone," Cropper told Reuters.
"They've come a good way. These oil terminals produce about 70% of gross domestic product. The Iraqi sailors here understand that and how important it is to protect them."
To date, al-Basra terminal, which handles 90% of Basra's oil exports, and Khor al-Amaya have been protected by US and UK forces while they and personnel from Australia and Singapore worked to get Iraqi naval recruits up to speed.
Like the rest of the Iraqi security forces, the navy had to be rebuilt from scratch after the 2003 US-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein because of a decision by US administrators to disband it.
Iraq's navy has ordered four Italian-made patrol boats, the first of which will be handed over in the Italian port of La Spezia on 15 May and sailed over to Umm Qasr port in southern Iraq. Fifteen more patrol boats will be bought.
There are now about 2000 Iraqi navy personnel, including 1400 marines. The plan is to recruit a total of 6500 by the end of 2011, when all US troops are due to withdraw from Iraq.
"We're building a navy absolutely from scratch and that requires equipment, ships, which you have to buy, training, all of which takes time," British Army Brigadier Mark Lacey told the news agency.
US Navy Captain Karl van Deusen, head of operations for the task force, said building the navy was a long-term goal.
"We're doing a phased approach. We don't want to just cut the cord and walk away. We're still here," he said.
At the handover ceremony, an Iraqi military band played on a platform trimmed with tinsel while US vessels and Iraqi speedboats circled the terminal.
Iraqi navy operations commander, Commodore Ahmed Jassim Marij, said the navy knew it shouldered a big responsibility for protecting Iraq's main source of income, its crude exports.
"We are ready to protect this terminal. Later we will take over the other. Protecting our oil terminals from the threat of terrorism is vital," he said.