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NMCB 4 Seabees Expending Energy on Oil Platforms

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080912-15
Release Date: 9/12/2008 4:33:00 PM

From Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 Public Affairs

AL BASRAH OIL TERMINAL, Persian Gulf (NNS) -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 arrived to oil terminals located off the coast of Iraq Aug. 23 to work on living conditions and improve platform access.

Few Seabees have had the opportunity of working on oil terminals, which are huge suppliers of the exported oil. Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT) and Al Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT) are located in the northern Persian Gulf.

"It's kind of cool knowing that we are working on something that is so important to the world's economy," said Utilitiesman 2nd Class (SCW) Jason Grubbs.

U.S. and coalition maritime forces provide assistance to the Iraqi Navy defending Iraq's major oil platforms. These terminals are significant sources of Iraqi government revenue and contribute approximately 80 percent of Iraq's gross domestic product.

Another requirement for NMCB 4 is to train the civilian contractors to handle repairs and trouble calls on their own so that the platforms can run and operate self-sufficiently.

"We aren't going to be here forever," said Steelworker 2nd Class Nicholas Nenortas. "They need to learn how to do preventative maintenance and upkeep so they can effectively operate the oil platforms with maximum efficiency."

Led by Combined Task Force (CTF) 158, coalition maritime forces in the North Arabian Gulf maintain a naval and air presence to safeguard the region's vital links to the global economy. These key maritime infrastructure nodes are the foundation for the region's economic growth, stability and prosperity as well as significantly impact the global economy.

"Our forces are here to foster security and cooperation in the region and to conduct operations that contribute to peace and stability," said Rear Adm. Thomas Cropper, deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.

"U.S. and coalition forces provide the assurance of security and stability that enables the economic development and growing prosperity of the people throughout this region."

NMCB 4 is on a six-month deployment supporting U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. African Command, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Southern Command, and U.S. European Command construction requirements.

For more news from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4, visit www.navy.mil/local/nmcb4/.