see the original story at the link above

Articles in shipping press state that the MOD are chartering vessels for shipping troops & equipment to Iraq - some are listed below:

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NOVOSHIP (UK) LTD.

Watergate House, 13-15 York Buildings London WC2N 6JU
United Kingdom
* Telephone: +44 (0) 207 747 9100
* Telefax : +44 (0) 207 747 9000
* Email :  Inquiries@novoship.co.uk

The Sochi is a Russian-owned and built 13,480 dwt ro-ro managed from London by Novoship.
It has previously undertaken military charters for
the US and Canada.
Currently lying in Southampton
Novoship declined to comment.

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DFDS Seaways operate the Tor Anglia, built 1977 and of 8,700 dwt, and with a capacity of 2,450 lane metres.
Lloyds list states that "DFDS confirmed that it had chartered the ship to the UK Ministry of Defence for three months from January 15"
However DFDS's MD, Eber Pederson will neither confirm nor deny the story.

DFDS Seaways
Scandinavia House
Parkeston
Harwich
Essex
CO12 4QG

01255 242 242

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The US Military Sealift Command has confirmed that it is currently chartering the Warwick,according to LLoyds list,
a 1,400 teu boxship built 1998 managed out of London by V.Ships (also declined to comment)

Tony Crawford CEO
Gate House
1, Farringdon Road
EC4M 7NS London
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 20 7332 8500
Fax: +44 20 7489 0529
www.vships.com

(Note, they just manage the MV warwick, it is owned by Warwickshire Shipping Inc, Monrovia)

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No real confirmation from the MOD either , except this in
Geoff Hoons statement last week:
"We are taking steps to ensure the readiness of units and equipment, and the availability of appropriate chartered shipping and air transport in which to deploy them."

Full text of the statement is here:

 http://news.mod.uk/news/press/news_press_notice.asp?newsItem_id=2236

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