56 January 2014 www.bahrainthismonth.com spotlightthismonth xxxxx We’re planning a new headquarters at the Mina Salman port, which will be far bigger with better facilities. We are committed to Bahrain and the region The Middle East region is important to the United Kingdom for a number of reasons. For one, it’s been the engine of the global economy for the better part of the last century. This economy is underpinned by the safe and free flow of international trade, mainly petroleum and gas products over open waterways. “The stability of the global economy is important to us and I’d say the Royal Navy is in the region in the national interest,” says Commodore Keith Blount, commander of the UK Maritime Component Command in Bahrain. In 2012, the UK imported over STG400 million worth of crude oil from the Middle East. The same year, almost 30 per cent of its gas imports came by sea, more than 97 per cent arriving from Qatar and Egypt. The Royal Navy plans to make its presence in Bahrain more permanent over the coming years. “We’re planning a new headquarters at the Mina Salman port, which will be far bigger with better facilities. We are committed to Bahrain and the region. This feels like a natural home for us; our continued presence here attests to the strong relationship between the two countries,” he says. The Gulf region is home to a thousand maritime infrastructure installations. Further, the Strait of Hormuz witnesses ships carrying 16 to 18 million barrels of oil and at least two million barrels of petroleum products on a daily basis, accounting for about 30 per cent of the total oil movement internationally. With so much wealth transiting the area, the security of these waters is crucial for Britain and other countries around the world. Commodore Blount has oversight of Royal Navy warships and aircraft in the region as they deliver security missions in countering piracy, terrorism and the flow of narcotics. In his capacity as deputy commander of the Combined Maritime Forces, his brief involves coordinating naval ships from over 30 nations, which support security missions. Increased vigil along the Gulf of Aden has contained piracy to a great extent. In 2011, there were 130 incidents of pirate attacks and 20 ships were under control of pirates off the coast of Somalia. Last year, there were only two incidents of attack. “While the military has made a big difference, the maritime industry deserves credit in their efforts to educate ships in the precautions against pirate attacks. The private security teams that sail on ships providing the last line of defence have also been effective,” he notes. However, there is a danger of remission; the piracy threat will be back in no time if the pressure on the pirates was relieved, he believes. A helicopter pilot by trade, Commodore Blount is in the 30th year of his naval career. He’s had three stints at the Ministry of Defence, the last one as military assistant to the vice chief of the defence staff. SIMI KAMBOJ The British Royal Navy has patrolled the Persian Gulf waters since the 1970s. The New Year will find it consolidating its presence further in Bahrain. Deepening Engagement Commodore Keith Blount
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