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Bellatrix crew helps pets, too (9/26)

The U.S. Military Sealift Command has issued the following news release concerning the Seafarers-crewed USNS Bellatrix. The release appears below and also is available on MSC’s web site here Mariners build shelters for New Orleans pets Mariners from the U.S. Navy cargo ship USNS Bellatrix helped Louisiana veterinarians save orphaned pets in New Orleans’ St. Bernard parish, an area devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The 946-foot fast sealift ship, operated by the Navy’s Military Sealift Command, returned to Louisiana soon after Katrina to join relief efforts. “Most of my crew is from this area,” said Capt. William Nehring, Bellatrix's master. “They couldn’t wait to get back here and help out.” In their spare time, the 27 civilian mariners who crew Bellatrix used various supplies and spare parts to build cages and shelters for more than 300 cats and dogs separated from their owners. Mariners volunteered to walk and groom the homeless pets. The ship also took on relief workers – 17 U.S. Marines from the 4th Civil Affairs Group, based in Washington, D.C., two Navy doctors and 10 local veterinarians and vet assistants. When the outer bands of Hurricane Rita struck the New Orleans area Sept. 24, Bellatrix housed five sick canines in the ship’s massive cargo hold. The homeless pets were sheltered from the wind and rain and received medical attention from vets during the storm. USNS Bellatrix is a noncombatant, government-owned ship crewed by U.S. mariners who work for a private company under contract to MSC. The ship is usually kept in reduced operating status in Violet, La., with a cadre crew aboard that keeps the ship ready to get underway in four days when needed. Bellatrix carried 135,000 square feet of Humvees, tanks and other combat cargo returning from Iraq for the Army’s 42nd Infantry Division in February. MSC operates 120 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that move combat cargo for U.S. forces, replenish U.S. Navy ships at sea, chart ocean bottoms and strategically preposition equipment and supplies at sea around the world. ###