MyLinh Shattan

U.S. Coast Guard Secures Oil Platforms In Arabian Gulf

Two oil platforms in the northern Arabian Gulf generate the majority of Iraq’s revenue and are the shipping point for a significant portion of the world’s oil. In 2004, terrorists attempted to attack one platform, but coalition forces deterred them. Today the U.S. Coast Guard provides maritime security for these terminals, which some call the “crown jewels.”

Command Master Chief Jim Sirois called from Bahrain and spoke with Tribune correspondent MyLinh Shattan recently. Sirois’ home is in Rhode Island, and he looks forward to seeing his wife and his youngest child’s graduation from high school next year. With 25 years of service, he shared his thoughts on the U.S. Coast Guard’s often-overlooked role in the war on terror.

Tell us about your assignment. I’m the assistant engineer officer and command master chief for Coast Guard forces, Southwest Asia. The main job I do is coordinate major maintenance for Coast Guard patrol boats. I’m second in charge, working with 37 people like welders, electricians, mechanics, trying to make sure the ships are kept in the highest possible means of readiness.

I’m similar to a command sergeant major in the Army. I’m career counselor and confidant. I’m down on the pier whenever a crew goes out. I see everyone, shake hands, wish them a safe trip. My rule of thumb is that on my watch, everyone gets home safe. No one goes home in a box.

What’s the Coast Guard mission there? Our mission is to secure the two main oil platforms in the Arabian Gulf. The Coast Guard has always been excellent in “brown water” or shallow water operations. The patrol craft here don’t draw as much water and draft. We have a lot more maneuverability, a lot more response time, and we can get into the areas that larger ships can’t because of their draft. We work well with the Navy. They have certain patrol craft that are similar to our patrol boats.

We have six 110-foot patrol boats over here and 150-200 people in theater on board ships and shoreside. That includes assigned tactical law enforcement detachments from California or Florida that help with boardings and training the Iraqi marine units. We’re 100 percent volunteers – no one told us to come out. And there are men and women.

Why do you conduct boardings? We do a lot of security boardings on boats. It could be a cargo, container ship or just a tanker, and we need to conduct security sweeps. We get the crew in one area and sweep the boats to see if there’s any contraband, stowaways, goods, weapons – anything illegal. A lot involves the local fishing fleet on boats called dhows.

How do you deter criminal activity in the region known as “Ali Baba”? Most of it is “overt presence” like that police officer on the side of the road, holding the radar gun. It keeps people honest. It’s one of our strengths – we’re always there.

The cutters responded a couple times to an incident on the radios; people trying to push the envelope, like the fisherman that’s going along and crosses into the patrol area. They get too close to the security region, so we respond. People have done it on purpose to see how close or how far they can push this. They realize they can’t, so they back off.

What’s life like on the boat? The crews, 19 to 22 people, spend a year on the 110-foot boats. When they pull in, we go on board and augment and take care of 90 percent of any type of maintenance. That’s how we give them a break. About every five days they’re pulling into Kuwait to take on fuel and stowage. They’ll have a night where the boat’s not moving or beating the heck out of ’em, and they’ll get a good night’s sleep. A lot of times that’s the only rest they’ve seen. They’ll do 16-, 20-hour days as common practice.

Picture a 110-foot aluminum boat. The majority of what’s there is for operations, and you’re with 21 other people, shoulder to shoulder for a month at a time, living, eating, sleeping, everything with these people. Either you get really, really close, or if you don’t like other people around, if you’re claustrophobic, it’s not the job for you.

They come back with that thousand-yard stare of just being totally exhausted. But believe it or not, that makes time go faster. They’re doing three-, four-week trips, and every time they come back in, that’s one month down. One month closer to going home.

Does Iraq have a Coast Guard? Right now they have some small patrol craft, mostly on rivers. But 95 percent is coalition forces, the Aussies, Brits out there.

How’s Iraqi training? We have one facility here and are finishing a facility where they have a lot of different containers to practice entrance techniques and tactics in the small confines of a ship. The one in Bahrain we use to train ourselves. The one in Iraq, the Iraqi marines and their forces can practice tactics and techniques. Hopefully in the near future, I’ll be able to see the first graduating [Iraqi] class from our new facility.

[Iraqis and our Coast Guard] train together. They see how we operate. They’re always absolutely willing to learn, wanting to do the right thing, wanting to take over. They’re very enthusiastic.

When can Iraq assume the Coast Guard role? Just like anything else, that’s our ultimate goal, saying, “Hey, you’ve got it,” and then hand over the baton to continue on the fight for their independence.

Unofficially, as me personally, it’s going well – hoping within the next five years. I hope it happens a lot sooner.

What’s the reaction from the locals? When they’re out fishing, doing their work, they see us doing boardings, our overt presence. They actually feel safer from any type of illegal activity where someone might come on board, steal their goods, fish. It’s like a double-edged sword: “I’m getting boarded, but as long as I’m close to them, nobody’s going to come and mess with me.”

I’ve heard a term in the past about shoreside support: We’re the storm before the calm. We’re the ones behind the scenes, taking care of what needs to be done.

Tribune correspondent MyLinh Shattan can be reached at mylinh@mylinhshattan.com.

Related posts:

  1. We Have A Positive Story To Tell From Iraq
  2. ‘We Go Where We’re Needed, When We’re Needed’
  3. ‘A Wonderful Way To Build Bridges’
  4. 2006:  The Year of the Dog

Oct 22, 2006

0 Comments

Share On Facebook
Share On Twitter
Share On Pinterest
Share On Linkedin
Share On Whatsapp
Share Via Email

About the Author

Mylinh Shattan is a writer who has lived on three continents, served in the Army, worked in corporate America, and taught in college. She loves adventures, in the world and in the mind. Literature is relevant and learning is a lifelong pursuit, so you might as well have a bit of fun along the way.

Stay Up to Date

Rise above the tedium with the TreeHouseLetter. Always learning with a bit of fun.

Latest Posts

Munger on Learning and the Art of Swearing

In memory of Charles T. Munger, who passed away at the age of 99, I am sharing a TreeHouseLetter from last year. Munger was a man who believed in always learning. In my whole life, I have known no wise people (over a broad subject matter area) who didn't read all the...

Giving Thanks for a Man I Never Met

4 Min read On love and Thanksgiving Three rules for life AVAILABLE ON PODCAST SPOTIFY * I did not know the deceased. Garrett gave the eulogy on Friday* which was hard to listen to, hard to hear his voice quaver, to see him fight for composure. Death is a surprise....

On Flesh-Eating Beetles and Sins of the Mother

7 Min read Sense writing: traditional five plus two more 2 Reading recs: historical novel and story 1 Writing guide Improve writing immediately Toolbox, ages 9 to 99 AVAILABLE ON PODCAST Spotify * Writing Through the Seven Senses When I'm working on an aspect of my...

In the Company of Heroes*

4 Min read Operation Gothic Serpent / "Black Hawk Down" 30-Year Anniversary 160th SOAR(A), Night Stalkers Panel Discussion: Mike Durant (Pilot & POW), Dan Jollota (Pilot), Lee Van Arsdale (Ground commander) Veterans Day AVAILABLE ON PODCAST Spotify * This Veterans...

Spooky Hour with Spirits of the Dead

6 min read Word Work 2 Lexicons: Webster's NID 2nd Ed and Shorter OED 1 Book rec Halloween, All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day Fall mocktail, easy and delicious AVAILABLE ON PODCAST SPOTIFY Lakeview Cemetery next to my father's grave * No pressure but what are you doing...

What’s in Your Trunk?

5 Min read New England's largest flea market* Poetry for Emergencies--on the folly of fame, legacy, empire Sonnet by Percy Bysshe Shelley Book rec on writing song lyrics Toolbox, use 7 senses to improve writing** Texan king in a cow pasture AVAILABLE ON PODCAST...

Why Do I Run?

7 min read 4 book recs: two on running and two on living Running gear for mid-life and the mid-packer Training, injury-free and effortless The Army Ten-Miler * AVAILABLE ON PODCAST SPOTIFY * Why do I run? I'm not sure I like running, even when I was fit and fast....

Topics

Inoculate yourself against the absurdity of life with a dose of the best ideas and writing. Always learning with a bit of fun.

TreeHouseLetter

Always learning with a bit of fun

 

 

Readers receive one to two letters a week, with 2 to 10 minute read time. Includes regular features:

 

The Music in Prose
Poetry for Emergencies
Toolbox

 

 

Be inspired by the best writing and ideas, and become better readers and writers in the process.

Thank you for joining! Please check your email for a confirmation.