BAHRAINI naval forces have been patrolling shipping lanes in the region to ensure safe passage for cargo vessels alongside international partners.
The Royal Bahrain Naval Force yesterday drew praises from a senior US naval commander for its operational ability and working with the seven-member International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), which was launched in November to protect the international merchant community following a string of vessel attacks that have been blamed on Iran.
“We are happy to see Bahrain as a member of the coalition,” said outgoing IMSC commander Rear Admiral Alvin Holsey.
“Bahrain engages with us and their ships are deployed here along with other coalition members. They are part of the team and plans.”
He was speaking to the GDN on the sidelines of the first IMSC change of command ceremony that was held at the US Navy Base in Juffair.
Work on the formation of the IMSC between Bahrain and the US Navy Fifth Fleet started in October last year, with its headquarters at the base opened by BDF Commander-in-Chief Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.
“The GCC (states) are working very well with us in the IMSC that is based here in Bahrain,” added Rear Admiral Holsey.
The GDN toured the IMSC headquarters yesterday, which works under Operation Sentinel and is manned by an inter-agency crew including personnel from the Bahrain Navy.
They work with participants from Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the UK and the US in monitoring strategic waterways and ensuring safe passage for cargo vessels.
“The IMSC now has 90 personnel that include six each from Bahrain, Saudi and
the UAE who play a vital role in this coalition,” said IMSC operations head Commander Ben Keith.
“Bahrain plays an important role by providing ships, navy personnel and its expertise to help oversee the IMSC on an equal footing with other regional navies.
“There will always be three to four of our assets in
the region that assist the merchant community.”
Commander Keith stressed that as regional tensions escalated between the US and Iran in the last few weeks, the IMSC team maintained its “professionalism” to monitor the waterways.
“As tensions grew in the past few weeks, the professionalism of the multi-nation navy forces stepped up as we continue to sit from this tent and communicate with national authorities and the merchant community,” he added.
Also present at yesterday’s change of command ceremony was US Navy Fifth Fleet Commander Vice Admiral James Malloy, who praised IMSC partners, including from Bahrain and other Gulf countries.
“To our partners, staff and watchkeepers from Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Albania, Australia and the UK, this first team, we are in your debt and you have our eternal gratitude,” he said in his opening address.
“You gathered and operationalised a concept in record time – moving toward the sound of crisis, rising to a sense of urgency, putting to sea and ensuring threats are exposed and free flow of commerce is assured.
“All sea-going nations who value the rule of law will sail safely today due to your efforts.”
Bahrain also played a key role when Operation Inherent Resolve was launched in 2014, making it initially the only nation for 54 days that allowed the US to conduct strikes in Iraq and Syria against Islamic State militants from its territory.
Bahrain is home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and its more than 8,500 military members and their dependants, with their presence directly contributing to more than $1.2 billion to Bahrain’s economy in 2016.
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