The U.S. Military Sealift Command has issued the following news release concerning an exercise involving two SIU-crewed vessels (the Baldomero Lopez and Franklin Philips). The release is dated August 16.MSC ships participate in Asian anti-terrorism training exercise
Two civilian-crewed ships operated by the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command joined a multi-national, anti-terrorism exercise in the South China Sea and Strait of Malacca today.
MSC’s Maritime Prepositioning Ships USNS 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez and MV Pvt. Franklin J. Philips are the focal points of several training scenarios during an exercise called Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism.
Lopez and Philips will pass through the territorial waters of the other participating countries – Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia – during a portion of the weeklong exercise. The Asian navies will track Lopez and Philips and respond to simulated challenges, such as searching the ships for suspicious cargo or crew members. The exercise is designed to highlight the value of communication and cooperation between navies of different countries.
During the exercise, Lopez, a government-owned ship, and Philips, under long-term charter to MSC, will also be platforms for U.S. Coast Guard teams to train foreign military personnel, offering techniques for successfully boarding and searching suspicious vessels.
The sixth annual exercise, which includes three other U.S. Navy ships, started Monday.
Maritime Prepositioning Ships, which support the U.S. Marine Corps, are strategically placed at sea and ready to quickly deliver equipment and supplies to troops ashore when needed.
MSC operates approximately 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, chart ocean bottoms, conduct undersea surveillance, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.
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