The United States Navy delivered two 60-meter Offshore Support Vessels to Iraq on December 20, 2012, in Umm Qasr, Iraq. Vice Admiral Ali Hussein Ali, Head of the Iraqi Navy, hosted a delivery ceremony that was attended by officials from the Government of Iraq, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and U.S. Consulate General in Basrah. The delivery of the vessels reinforces the long-term partnership the United States shares with Iraq, as outlined by the Strategic Framework Agreement.
The Offshore Support Vessels are large, multi-purpose, multi-functional ships capable of providing a wide range of support to Iraqi naval operations. These new ships will significantly improve the Iraqi Navy’s ability to protect Iraq’s territorial waters. They will also support Iraq’s patrol boats and Fast Attack Boats at sea, offshore oil platforms, and movement of security personnel. Additionally, the vessels are capable of supporting other missions such as environmental cleanup in the event of an oil platform spill or emergency.
The U.S. Embassy, through its Office of Security Cooperation, works to provide security assistance to Iraq as a sovereign, stable, and self-reliant strategic partner that contributes to peace and security in the region.
