Royal Navy Trains Iraqi Ship Crew

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.