MANAMA,
Bahrain (April 9, 2016) – The latest iteration of the International Mine
Countermeasures Exercise (IMCMEX) is about more than mine hunting, said
the commander of U.S. naval forces in the Middle East as he met with
reporters April 9 to discuss the exercise.
Vice
Adm. Kevin Donegan, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, told
members of the international media, here to observe IMCMEX, the exercise
demonstrates global resolve in maintaining freedom of navigation and
the free of flow of maritime commerce.
The
exercise includes mine countermeasures, diving operations, small-boat
exercises, maritime security operations coordinated with industrial and
commercial shipping, unmanned underwater vehicle operations, and port
clearance operations.
Donegan
noted the region provides an effective training opportunity, as three of
the world’s major maritime chokepoints are located here: the Suez Canal
in Egypt, the Strait of Bal Al Mandeb between Djibouti and Yemen; and
the Strait of Hormuz between Oman and Iran.
“Nearly
20 percent of the world’s oil transits through the Strait of Hormuz
every day,” Donegan said. “Imagine the impact on the global economy if
suddenly that oil stops flowing because of restricted sea-lanes. This
region is clearly important to the whole world. This exercise is a great
opportunity for us to build proficiency and test the latest technology
available for ensuring the global maritime commons stay open and
secure.”
Donegan
spoke with reporters alongside the deputy commander of the Combined
Maritime Forces, Royal Navy Commodore William Warrender. Warrender is
the officer leading this year’s IMCMEX. “The exercise itself allows us
to undertake practical training and to test our equipment in an
exceedingly realistic environment,” Warrender said.
International
maritime forces representing more than 30 nations from six continents
are taking part in IMCMEX. Donegan praised the efforts of the exercise’s
participants, noting their contributions strengthen the collective
ability to counter threats to freedom of navigation while working with
the maritime industry to protect the free flow of commerce anywhere in
the world.
“Our
partnership with commercial and industry shipping is a unique strength
of this exercise. We continue to effectively operate together, and with
partner nations, further highlighting the ability to safely escort
commercial ships,” said Donegan.
IMCMEX
will also demonstrate new technologies, such as unmanned underwater
vehicles. It also exercises the sealift capabilities of the
expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Choctaw County (JHSV 2) and the
afloat forward staging base USS Ponce (AFSB(I) 15), equipped with the
U.S. Navy’s only operational laser weapon system.
IMCMEX
began April 4 with a symposium in Bahrain on Maritime Infrastructure
Protection bringing together governments, militaries and industry to
discuss how to best provide the necessary foundation of security that
supports unrestricted access to the vital maritime infrastructure that
is critical to regional and global economies.
The exercise will continue through April 26.