• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Fire Aboard Iraqi Oil Terminal Reported, Burns Itself Out

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060526-13
5/26/2006

From Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

BAHRAIN (NNS) -- A fire that had been burning aboard one of Iraq’s two oil terminals, the Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT), May 26 has burned itself out.

No U.S. personnel were injured in the fire. Several Iraqi personnel were injured in the fire. Personnel aboard the terminal have been evacuated, with a small number remaining aboard.

Initial reports indicate that the fire was caused by contract work being performed on the terminal’s pumping system. U.S. and coalition naval forces are currently providing assistance to the Iraqis.

KAAOT, the older of Iraq’s two oil terminals, only provides about 5 percent of Iraq’s oil distribution capacity.

Commander, Task Force 158, currently led by U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Carl Jensen, consists of ships from U.S., U.K., and Australian navies, as well as the U.S. Coast Guard. U.S. Sailors also work alongside their Iraqi Marine counterparts aboard the oil terminals to provide point defense against attacks.