British Warship Intercepts Iraqi Tanker

Ananova ^ | 6-1-2002

[blam]

British warship intercepts Iraqi tanker

A British warship has intercepted an Iraqi tanker smuggling oil in violation of UN sanctions, the British Embassy in Kuwait says.

HMS Portland, operating in the northern Gulf, tracked and boarded the MV Devo which was found to be carrying 3,100 tons of illegal diesel oil.

During the operation, a British Royal Marine detachment "encountered significant passive defences" such as hatches and doors welded shut, and barbed wire on the upper deck.

An "exhaustive search" revealed incorrect documentation and the contraband oil, the embassy says.

The embassy did not say what happened to the ship or its crew, but usually such vessels are impounded and the crew investigated and released.

The UN imposed economic sanctions on Iraqi after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait. But since 1996, Baghdad has been allowed to sell oil under a UN-supervised programme to buy food, medicine and other basic goods.

Oil smuggling, however, is believed to inject millions of unrestricted dollars every month into Iraqi coffers.

The US General Accounting Office, the watchdog arm of the US Congress, said in a report on Wednesday that Iraq has illegally earned at $6.6 billion since 1997 - $4.3 billion from oil smuggling and $2.3 billion in illegal surcharges on oil and commissions from commodities contracts.

HMS Portland is serving in the Gulf as part of an international maritime intervention force aimed at seizing violators of the embargo.

Story filed: 15:08 Saturday 1st June 2002

[blam]

Have you noticed how it seems that the British have taken the lead in most of the areas where we are active.
Does that indicate that we are somewhere else getting ready for something else? I wonder?

[Wave Rider]

Yes that does have a ring to it doesn't it.

Also hope that they Pumped the oil out of it for their own use then SUNK the RAG HEAD Ship!

[green team 1999]

F-79 duke class type 23 frigate,new ship from 2001,anti-submarine,anti-aircraft capable,with a very quiet engine.
notice the missile launcher area behind the 5 inch gun

[blam]

"notice the missile launcher area behind the 5 inch gun"

Is that missles or depth charges?

[Trueblackman]

It would still have it's hands full battling a Perry Class Frigate and it's SH-60B's!!! The ship is a lightweight.

[RJL]

notice the missile launcher area behind the 5 inch gun

That's what she said!

[Trueblackman]

That is a light-weight Missile System. Most ships of foreign design has this system now. Most Navals don't even build Crusiers anymore so they outfit these types of ships but call them Destroyers and Frigates. The thing would be either a Destroyer or even a light Crusiers in The U.S. This is a throw away design you see in the Navies of Europe now and most of these ships are backfitted year after to keep cost down.

[green team 1999]

anti-ship and air defenses missiles.

[green team 1999]

"notice the missiles area behind the clinton 5 inch",well that is what paula jones said.