CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq – Eighty percent of Iraq’s gross domestic product is pumped through pipelines and onto tankers at the Al Basrah Oil Terminal 30 miles off the coast of Iraq in the Persian Gulf.
The ABOT is a vital part of Iraq’s economy, and it is the job of the United States Sailors and Coast Guardsmen stationed there to keep it safe, according to Commander Thomas Shultz, the chief of staff officer for Commander Task Group Iraqi Maritime.
“The Al Basrah Oil Terminal is the main Iraqi oil terminal for off-loading oil from Iraq. It accounts for approximately 80 percent of their GDP on a daily basis, so it is a key part of their economic structure,” the San Diego, resident said. “It is something that has to stay open and continue working day in and day out for the Iraqi economy to keep on moving.”
Four tankers simultaneously dock at the platform, while Iraq’s oil is pumped into the ships. According to Shultz, the terminal receives an average of six tankers per week and pumps around 1.5 million barrels of oil a day.
“That’s quite a bit of oil that is going into these tankers on a daily basis,” he said. “They will take the oil back to all different types of countries; from the far east to the Americas, and Europe. Tankers from all over the world are coming here.”
“The Iraqi military will eventually take over our mission of providing security, so, our main mission now is to train them to be ready for that day,” said Chief Petty Officer Stephen Leas, operations specialist chief of the USS Decatur. “We are here to support them while they get on their feet.”
“When something happens out here, we make sure (the Iraqi Naval Forces) know about it. We clear everything through them before we take action to correct the issue,” Leas, a Victorville, Calif., native said.
“There was an attack that was attempted back in 2004, and luckily the security forces at that time were able to hold off that attack,” Shultz added.
On the platform, Sailor’s and Coast Guardsmen patrol every minute of the day to maintain situational awareness and ensure any threats that come up are dealt with immediately. Iraqi sailors and marines also help provide security on the platform.
On the waters surrounding the ABOT, US Navy ships and Iraqi patrol boats can be seen patrolling to ensure no unauthorized water crafts breech the security perimeter.
In addition to the military forces providing security, about 100 workers from the Southern Oil Company, based in Basrah, operate the valves ensuring the oil makes its way to the tankers, Shultz said.
Shultz said he enjoys his job on the platform.
“It’s very interesting, different than anything folks normally have a chance to do,” he said. “People that come here are interested. It’s a real mission; you’re protecting something that is helping the Iraqi people and the nation as a whole, so people get a lot out of conducting this mission.”
