Construction to begin on Iraqi funded pier and seawall

The Iraqi Navy has given the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division approval to initiate construction of the $53 million Umm Qasr pier and seawall project in al-Basra province.

This is the first Foreign Military Sales project between Iraq and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. FMS is a program where the host country pays the U.S. government for construction and supplies related to its military.

FMS is a new process for us, said Rear Admiral Jawad Kadhum, head of the Iraqi Navy. We are satisfied with the project design, and ready for construction to begin. A trust has been built between the Iraqi Navy, Ministry of Defense and GRD. This is a very important project for us and will help build a strong Navy for Iraq.




Maj. Gen. Michael R. Eyre, commanding general of the Gulf Region Division, said, This is an excellent example of the Iraqis taking the lead and the dramatic transition taking place in Iraq right now. In this case, the government of Iraq is providing project funding, and we are supporting them with contract and construction management.

Since October 2008 staff from GRD and the Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq (MNSTC-I) have been working alongside Iraqs Ministry of Defense and Navy to establish expectations for the project, conceptual designs and timelines.

This project is of strategic importance in protecting Iraqs oil platforms, and it is also important to MoD and all of Iraq, Kadhum added. It will also help the people of Basra, specifically Umm Qasr, as construction will bring jobs and business to the local area. This project shows that the Coalition Forces did not just come to liberate Iraq but came to help build Iraq.

To view animation of what the project will look like, go to: http://www.grd.usace.army.mil/news/releases/index.asp and click on the press release.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Iraqi Navy
• Ministry of Defense
• Iraq reconstruction
• Gulf Region Division