Fifty Iraqi Sailors graduated from patrol boat training at the Swiftships Shipbuilding facility in Louisiana, United States, following a partnership with the United States' Navy and industry designed to help bolster Iraq's maritime security.
The training was held to support the Iraq government as it prepares to take possession of the first of fifteen 35-metre patrol boats (PBs).
The sailors arrived for training in mid-April 2010 to learn how to use their newly purchased 35-metre patrol boats. The 35-metre P-301, built by Swiftships, will join a naval squadron of 55 vessels. Currently, the Iraqi Navy has two marine bases and four large patrol ships that guard Iraq's territorial waters, protecting critical oil infrastructure and commercial traffic areas.
"The patrol boat was built in consideration of the type of waterways, oil platforms and close in support and security requirements of the Iraqi forces," said Captain Ed Turner, commanding officer, Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activity.
"It's the ideal size to support the river security and big enough to go out and provide protection for their oil platforms and terminals in the Persian Gulf."
During their training, the crew lived at Swiftships' temporarily constructed training village, adjacent to the shipyard.
The students completed a 90-day blended training programme, which consisted of instructor-led classroom training, integrated scenario-based simulator training and underway familiarisation aboard a 35-metre PB.
"The Iraqi sailors receive the same type of training that a US navy sailor would receive, including the nuts and bolts of how to maintain and operate a 35-metre boat," said Chris Meyers, an instructor.