Barge is Gulf naval base

Press, 2 October 1987, Page 6

Barge is Gulf naval base

NZPA-Reuter Washington The United States, military has begun using a leased commercial barge in the Gulf to support patfol. boats, minesweepers and helicopters which help to protect Kuwaiti tanker convoys, according to defence officials. The officials, who asked not to be identified, also

told Reuters that a second barge might be added later. The confirmation came ../after television camera--men in helicopters filmed ' a barge nearly 122 m long and 33m wide, off the coast of Bahrain; Defence officials said the barge will provide basing, fuel and maintenance for patrol boats and helicopters and could be

anchored anywhere on the route of United Statesflagged Kuwaiti tankers escorted to and from Kuwait by United States warships. Meanwhile, the Reagan administration on Wednesday reserved judgment on a Congressional move to ban all imports from Iran, although officials were in sympathy with the general thrust of

i the proposal. The United States has a ; naval force of nearly 30 i warships in and near the ; . Gulf to protect United - States shipping but has no i large on-shore base facilii ties in the Arab States bordering the war-tom 1 waterway. i Reagan Administration i officials have said that r Arab States have not t offered adequate naval

basing, apparently because they fear retaliation from Iran, and that the barges provide good supply and repair space; Defence officials said the barge will be operatedunder the control of the United States military with the help of private contracting personnel. They did not identity the firm which had leased the craft to the Navy. .