Royal Navy ‘bobbies’ safeguard Gulf shipping over Christmas

ROYAL Navy warships will act as ‘bobbies on the beat’ protecting ships in and out of the Gulf this Christmas.

Half a dozen ships stand ready to support a new international naval force set up to prevent merchant vessels being seized or attacked passing into and out of the Gulf through the narrow Strait of Hormuz.

The International Maritime Security Construct builds on the work Royal Navy vessels – led by frigate HMS Montrose – have been performing since July.

On their own, the British vessels – which have included HMS Kent and destroyers Duncan and Defender – have safeguarded millions of tonnes of shipping.

Given the global importance of the Gulf to world trade – and energy supplies especially – military and political leaders determined that an international problem demanded an international solution.

The result is Operation Sentinel, run by a team or ‘construct’ of seven nations from a new headquarters in Bahrain.

The team – which includes five Royal Navy personnel – monitors a vast area, and incredibly busy waters: on a typical weekday there are at least 1,800 ships at sea between the shores of Qatar in the west and the Gulf of Oman to the east.

And not included on that complex picture are vessels under 300 tonnes - so the countless tugs, dhows and other small craft at work in the region.