Description
Book SynopsisDuring the Iran-Iraq war, hundreds of merchant vessels were attacked, more than 400 seamen killed and millions of dollars' worth of damages were suffered by owners, charterers and insurers. In the most sustained assault on merchant shipping since the Second World War, the control of shipping routes, destruction of enemy and enemy-allied ships, and the protection of oil exports, were key objectives. These campaigns touched the economic and security interests of the Gulf states by threatening their exports and highlighting their political and military vulnerability. The ripples of the tanker wars extended well beyond the region with attacks on vessels with foreign flags which invoked international concern and drew in foreign naval forces.
Table of ContentsOil, shipping and the Iran-Iraq dispute; merchant shipping and the outbreak of hostilities 1980; the pre-tanker war phase 1981-83; Iraqi escalation and Iranian response 1984; shipping under fire 1985 and 1986; allied intervention 1987; endgame 1988; merchant shipping and Gulf security in the 1990s. Appendix: ships attacked during the Iran-Iraq war 1981-88.
