Posted:
January 19, 2010
In the aftermath of last week’s 7.0-magnitude earthquake centered near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, a number of vessels have been sent to join in humanitarian aid efforts. Among them to date are five AMO-contracted vessels — the USNS 1st LT Jack Lummus, USNS Henson, S/S Gopher State, S/S Cornhusker State and S/S Cape May.
These five ships are among 10 Military Sealift Command vessels and four Ready Reserve Force ships mobilized to date in support of humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti. The U.S. Maritime Administration’s Ready Reserve Force ships – including the Cape May, Gopher State and Cornhusker State – come under the operational control of MSC when activated.
“Sending these ships will help those on the front line of this effort save as many lives in Haiti as possible,” said Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. “These ships will add crucial capabilities by supporting operations to move large volumes of people and cargo.”
The USNS 1st LT Jack Lummus, operated by American Overseas Marine Corp. in MSC’s prepositioning program, has been loading cargo in Jacksonville, Fla. for the last two days and is expected to be underway for the Caribbean nation this evening, Military Sealift Command reported. The Lummus will carry pallets of relief supplies, bulldozers and other heavy equipment, medical resupply vehicles, medical supplies, fuels, and motorized and non-motorized barges to transport the ship’s cargo to shore.
The earthquake destroyed local port facilities in Haiti, including the container crane and two smaller cranes. The oceanographic research ship USNS Henson, operated by 3PSC LLC for MSC, is scheduled to arrive in Haiti tomorrow and will examine the ocean floor and check the disruption of channels, Navy Times reported.
Until the port facilities can be restored, the bulk of relief materials will need to be shipped by air or be delivered on vessels capable of offloading without a port. The crane ships Gopher State and Cornhusker State are capable of assisting in this capacity. Both vessels are operated by Interocean American Shipping Corp.
The Cape May, operated by Ocean Duchess Inc., features a unique submersible cargo elevator capable of lifting entire floating causeway sections. The Cape May recently participated in the Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS) exercise, which tested the ship’s ability to help deliver cargo to a destination with a damaged, destroyed or non-existent port.
“Once again the U.S. merchant marine is answering the call for assistance, as it has done since our nation began,” said Acting Maritime Administrator David Matsuda. “These ships and skilled crews are ideally suited to assist in Haiti by providing unique capabilities. One cargo ship can carry as much as 400 fully loaded cargo planes.”
Military Sealift Command, Ready Reserve Force ships mobilize for earthquake relief effort in Haiti
In the aftermath of last week’s 7.0-magnitude earthquake centered near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, a number of vessels have been sent to join in humanitarian aid efforts. Among them to date are five AMO-contracted vessels — the USNS 1st LT Jack Lummus, USNS Henson, S/S Gopher State, S/S Cornhusker State and S/S Cape May.
These five ships are among 10 Military Sealift Command vessels and four Ready Reserve Force ships mobilized to date in support of humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti. The U.S. Maritime Administration’s Ready Reserve Force ships – including the Cape May, Gopher State and Cornhusker State – come under the operational control of MSC when activated.
“Sending these ships will help those on the front line of this effort save as many lives in Haiti as possible,” said Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. “These ships will add crucial capabilities by supporting operations to move large volumes of people and cargo.”
The USNS 1st LT Jack Lummus, operated by American Overseas Marine Corp. in MSC’s prepositioning program, has been loading cargo in Jacksonville, Fla. for the last two days and is expected to be underway for the Caribbean nation this evening, Military Sealift Command reported. The Lummus will carry pallets of relief supplies, bulldozers and other heavy equipment, medical resupply vehicles, medical supplies, fuels, and motorized and non-motorized barges to transport the ship’s cargo to shore.
The earthquake destroyed local port facilities in Haiti, including the container crane and two smaller cranes. The oceanographic research ship USNS Henson, operated by 3PSC LLC for MSC, is scheduled to arrive in Haiti tomorrow and will examine the ocean floor and check the disruption of channels, Navy Times reported.
Until the port facilities can be restored, the bulk of relief materials will need to be shipped by air or be delivered on vessels capable of offloading without a port. The crane ships Gopher State and Cornhusker State are capable of assisting in this capacity. Both vessels are operated by Interocean American Shipping Corp.
The Cape May, operated by Ocean Duchess Inc., features a unique submersible cargo elevator capable of lifting entire floating causeway sections. The Cape May recently participated in the Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS) exercise, which tested the ship’s ability to help deliver cargo to a destination with a damaged, destroyed or non-existent port.
“Once again the U.S. merchant marine is answering the call for assistance, as it has done since our nation began,” said Acting Maritime Administrator David Matsuda. “These ships and skilled crews are ideally suited to assist in Haiti by providing unique capabilities. One cargo ship can carry as much as 400 fully loaded cargo planes.”