The United States has delivered two naval support ships to Iraq, which is seeking to boost its fledgling maritime capabilities, the US embassy said on Sunday. The two 60-metre (200-foot) offshore support vessels were delivered by the US navy on December 20, the embassy said in a statement. The vessels are “large, multi-purpose, multi-functional ships capable of providing a wide range of support to Iraqi naval operations”, it said. They will also offer support to Iraq’s patrol and fast attack boats at sea, offshore oil platforms and help move security personnel, it added. According to the embassy, the US and Iraq shared the $115.5 million price tag of the ships and related support, equipment and training.
