http://www.geostrategy-direct.com/geostrategy-direct/secure/2010/11_03/3.asp
U.S. expanding Bahrain port facilities for the Fifth Fleet WASHINGTON - The United States has advanced in efforts to expand its naval presence in Bahrain. Officials said the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet has moved into the next stage of expanding its headquarters outside Manama. They said the project called for the modernization and expansion of a Bahraini port for the Fifth Fleet. "Work is to be performed in Manama, Bahrain, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 15, 2012," the Defense Department said. On Oct. 13, the Pentagon announced a $21.1 million award to Contrack International for the expansion of the U.S. Naval Support Activity. Officials said Contrack, based in McLean, Va., would develop the waterfront taken over from Bahrain. "Thirty-two bids were solicited with 11 bids received," the Pentagon said. "This contract is for P-928 Waterfront Development Program., Phase II, U.S. Naval Support Activity." Officials said the project would be overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They said the expansion would enable larger naval ships to dock in Manama. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates has opened a naval base along its eastern coast. The UAE has launched a naval base in Fujairah as part of an effort to deal with an Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Emirates have already begun construction of a crude oil pipeline to Fujairah in the Arabian Sea to ensure exports amid any regional crisis. "The Navy sees Fujairah as a strategic port," a UAE source said. The Navy conducted a ceremony for the new base in Fujairah on Oct. 20. The base would be located near an oil storage terminal and export facility in the emirate. "It will provide a quick response to natural and man-made disasters that may occur at sea, in addition to ensuring safe and quick passage for its oil exports," the official UAE news agency, Wam, said. The UAE has been operating a pipeline from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah. The emirates also plans to extend a natural gas pipeline to Qatar and Oman. France has also become a leading element in UAE security. On Oct. 21, France oversaw the arrival of its Indian Ocean regional command, called Alindien, at the Abu Dhabi port. Since 1973, Alindien has been the only major French Navy headquarters based permanently at sea. Today, the Indian Ocean Command would be based in the UAE. "Alindien will continue to command the Indian Ocean zone, but from land," the French Defense Ministry said on Oct. 25 said. "The headquarters will remain able to embark as necessary on any ship capable of hosting all or part of its staff." [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [email protected]. -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [email protected] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [email protected] Unsubscribe: [email protected] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtmlYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
