OUT IN THE GULF WITH RSS RESOLUTION

With the export of oil accounting for a significant bulk of Iraq's gross domestic product, the protection of key oil terminals in the North Arabian Gulf is critical to the on-going multinational reconstruction efforts in the country.

The RSN has been sending Landing Ships Tank (LSTs) to the Gulf for the past five years, with RSS Resolution being the fifth and latest deployment.

Returning from their three-month deployment on 20 Dec 08, the 180-strong crew of RSS Resolution undertook various maritime security operations such as conducting regular patrols and boarding operations, as well as providing logistics support for coalition vessels and helicopters.

Operating in the waters around these key oil platforms is a complex task due to their proximity to the insurgency in Iraq, disputed territorial boundary with Iran, and the dense shipping and fishing traffic.

This meant that the crew had to remain alert at all times, closely-monitoring every vessel that passed and scrutinising all activities occurring on board, as well as being ready to activate defensive measures if required.

As such, one of the primary challenges for the crew was sustaining this heightened sense of awareness and vigilance.

Explained Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Lee Joan Hin, Commanding Officer of RSS Resolution: "The demands placed on the crew to maintain their focus can be very energy-sapping, especially when it's during a long deployment like this."

Taking care of welfare was naturally one of the foremost priorities in keeping up their morale and physical fitness.

On top of assembling a strong team of naval chefs who whipped up good meals for the crew after their hard work each day, the ship's management team organised cohesion and physical fitness activities whenever possible, to make sure that the crew had a healthy work-life balance.

For LTC Lee, comprehensive planning and preparation were vital in meeting these challenges. An important management skill he put to practice during the mission was pre-empting any potential miscommunication by having daily briefs on ship operations, meeting all the departmental officers and chiefs, as well as conducting regular dialogue sessions with different segments of the crew.

"This allowed me the opportunity to clear any doubts or dispel rumours that might cause confusion, and to focus everyone's mind on the tasks at hand," he told cyberpioneer.

Also giving the servicemen's morale a boost was a visit by Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Desmond Kuek from 18 to 21 Oct 08.

After interacting with many of the ship's crew, LG Kuek rode in a Fast Craft Utility around the Al Basra Oil Terminal, and observed a simulated interception by the ship's Unmanned Surface Vessel to demonstrate its capabilities.

"The crew were heartened to see how senior commanders back home took the trouble to travel such a long distance just to spend a few hours with them," said LTC Lee.

"We might be thousands of miles away from home, but we were not forgotten."

Tags: ops & training