Why our merchant ships need the Royal Navy

sir – Your report (“Navy on delicate course in choppy waters”, October 23) reminds me of an incident I experienced some years ago in the Persian Gulf.

My British-flag container ship and an oil tanker were being escorted by a British warship, which was providing protection against the circling Iranian gunboats. Within sight of Dubai, where we were due to dock, we left our small convoy and headed for the pilot station.

As soon as the warship disappeared over the horizon, an Iranian gunboat drew alongside my ship and instructed us by radio to stop and be searched, while training his guns on us. Almost immediately, the Royal Navy returned at a truly impressive rate of knots, until our three vessels lay in a line, abreast of one another.

The British warship then radioed the Iranian gunboat to inform it that my ship was under his protection and that the gunboat was locked into the warship’s missile system. At this moment, the pilot boat appeared through the breakwater, but, on witnessing the situation, hastily turned round and headed home again.

With only yards between each of our vessels, any missile launch by the Royal Navy would almost certainly have blown all three of us out of the water. Thankfully, the Iranian blinked first and headed out to sea. After we had docked, I heard a loud explosion in the distance. I suspect the Iranian gunboat had taken out his frustration on some poor dhow instead.

Protecting Britain’s merchant fleet is one of the Royal Navy’s primary roles, and seafarers are thankful that it continues to provide this service in a difficult and dangerous world. Captain Peter J Newton

Chellaston, Derbyshire