Posted:
June 22, 2010
The large medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Mendonca served as the primary cargo platform for a joint logistics over the shore (JLOTS) exercise June 16 to 20 near Virginia Beach, Va., on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Military Sealift Command reported.
During the exercise, 550 military personnel demonstrated and practiced the U.S. military's ability to transport equipment and supplies to shore from a ship at sea where no useable port facilities exist.
The USNS Mendonca is operated by American Overseas Marine Corporation for MSC and is manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers.
The Army and Navy cargo-handling experts did an excellent job of safely and efficiently getting cargo to and from the ship, said AMO member Capt. Michael Murphy, master of the USNS Mendonca. He also remarked on the important roles of the ship's officers and crew.
"At the height of cargo operations, high winds and rain provided a challenging environment, but the 31 Army and 23 Navy professionals assigned aboard the ship did an excellent job moving cargo quickly and safely down the ramp to the waiting discharge facility," Murphy said. "Mendonca's crew also played an important role. They assisted on the bridge and on the deck plates to ensure a successful outcome."
JLOTS is a method of transporting rolling stock, such as tanks and trucks, as well as containerized cargo, from a ship at sea using motorized and a non-motorized barges. In addition to motorized lighterage, Army watercraft are used to move cargo between the ship and shore. JLOTS exercises prepare military personnel working with MSC vessels and Maritime Administration Ready Reserve Force ships for military and humanitarian missions in which a complete array of cargo needs to be moved from ships at sea to the shore in areas where port facilities are non-existent, damaged or inadequate for receiving ships and discharge of cargo at the pier. When activated, MARAD RRF vessels come under the operational control of MSC.
The U.S. Army's 7th Sustainment Brigade located at Fort Eustis, Va., was the host command for JLOTS 2010. Other units involved included the Army's Surface Deployment and Distribution Command's 597th Transportation Battalion, and the U.S. Navy's Cargo Handling Battalion One from Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Va., Cheatham Annex.
During the five-day exercise, the participants uploaded and discharged 179 pieces of rolling stock and containers to and from the 950-foot Mendonca via lighterage. Ashore, the cargo was either offloaded directly onto the beach, or onto a temporary pier constructed specifically for the exercise.
USNS Mendonca serves as primary platform in JLOTS 2010
The large medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Mendonca served as the primary cargo platform for a joint logistics over the shore (JLOTS) exercise June 16 to 20 near Virginia Beach, Va., on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Military Sealift Command reported.
During the exercise, 550 military personnel demonstrated and practiced the U.S. military's ability to transport equipment and supplies to shore from a ship at sea where no useable port facilities exist.
The USNS Mendonca is operated by American Overseas Marine Corporation for MSC and is manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers.
The Army and Navy cargo-handling experts did an excellent job of safely and efficiently getting cargo to and from the ship, said AMO member Capt. Michael Murphy, master of the USNS Mendonca. He also remarked on the important roles of the ship's officers and crew.
"At the height of cargo operations, high winds and rain provided a challenging environment, but the 31 Army and 23 Navy professionals assigned aboard the ship did an excellent job moving cargo quickly and safely down the ramp to the waiting discharge facility," Murphy said. "Mendonca's crew also played an important role. They assisted on the bridge and on the deck plates to ensure a successful outcome."
JLOTS is a method of transporting rolling stock, such as tanks and trucks, as well as containerized cargo, from a ship at sea using motorized and a non-motorized barges. In addition to motorized lighterage, Army watercraft are used to move cargo between the ship and shore. JLOTS exercises prepare military personnel working with MSC vessels and Maritime Administration Ready Reserve Force ships for military and humanitarian missions in which a complete array of cargo needs to be moved from ships at sea to the shore in areas where port facilities are non-existent, damaged or inadequate for receiving ships and discharge of cargo at the pier. When activated, MARAD RRF vessels come under the operational control of MSC.
The U.S. Army's 7th Sustainment Brigade located at Fort Eustis, Va., was the host command for JLOTS 2010. Other units involved included the Army's Surface Deployment and Distribution Command's 597th Transportation Battalion, and the U.S. Navy's Cargo Handling Battalion One from Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Va., Cheatham Annex.
During the five-day exercise, the participants uploaded and discharged 179 pieces of rolling stock and containers to and from the 950-foot Mendonca via lighterage. Ashore, the cargo was either offloaded directly onto the beach, or onto a temporary pier constructed specifically for the exercise.