UK Royal Navy personnel have been training the Iraqi INS Nasser’s crew so that they can defend and patrol Iraq’s territorial waters.

INS Nasser is one of four Italian-built Saettia Class patrol vessels operated by the Iraqi Navy in the Gulf.

Training under the UK led Iraqi training and advisory mission – navy (ITAM-N) programme covers seamanship, navigation, weapons-handling, anchoring, firefighting, damage control and engineering casualty control.

The training also involves the launch and recovery of the patrol ship’s rigid-hulled inflatable boat through the ship’s stern ramp.

Royal Navy ships will continue to protect Iraq’s offshore oil platforms while UK and US personnel train the Iraqi Navy’s ship crew.