Navy ships from Bahrain, the UK and the US are conducting a joint exercise to track and locate hostile vessels in the Gulf, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

Operation Goalkeeper aims to ensure a lawful maritime order and improve relationships between regional countries.

Led by British Royal Navy Commodore and Combined Task Force (CTF) 152 commander Peter Hudson, it involves training marines in maritime security operations.

The five-day exercise, taking place in the central and southern Arabian Gulf, ended on Wednesday.

'Exercise Goalkeeper provides coalition and regional navies an opportunity to fine tune their skills in conducting essential maritime security operations,' said Commodore Hudson.

It provides participants with an opportunity to showcase their ability to locate and track various vessels, practice boarding techniques and work with Bahrain's coastguard.

Coalition vessels participating in the exercise include the RBNS Al Fateh (PGGF 20), HMS Montrose (F 236) and USNS Catawba (T-ATF 168) and coalition maritime patrol aircraft.

Commodore Hudson said the operation's key focus was handling the command and control in locating and tracking specific vessels deemed to pose a threat to coalition nations.

The exercise also allows coalition teams to board the vessel and practice the procedures for handing them over to coastguard ships.

The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) regularly carry out security operations in the Gulf to promote the region's stability and prosperity.

These seek to prevent potential terrorists using the maritime environment as a venue to attack or transport people and weapons. - TradeArabia News Service