The U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) last month accelerated its pace for mobilizing and deploying civilian-crewed vessels for the sealift component of Operation Iraqi Freedom 3 (OIF3).As of press time for the Seafarers LOG, no fewer than nine vessels—all crewed by members of the SIU, including the union’s Government Services Division—recently had been mobilized for OIF3. These included (MSC vessels) the USNS Arctic, 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez, Sgt. William R. Button, USNS Charlton, and U.S. Maritime Administration’s (MarAd) Cape Rise, Cape Race, Cape Douglas, Cape Knox and Cape Wrath.
The MSC fast combat support ship USNS Arctic on Oct. 13 deployed with the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group for a six-month deployment in support of the global war on terrorism. Crewed by 160 civil service mariners and 60 embarked Sailors, the 754-foot Arctic is one of more than 30 civilian-crewed MSC ships that provide at-sea logistic support to deployed U.S. Navy ships. Ships like the Arctic enable Navy combatant ships to remain at sea, on station and combat ready for extended periods of time.
The Arctic will provide food, fuel, supplies and ammunition to the carrier strike group throughout its deployment. With a top speed of 25 knots, the Arctic is ideal for re-supplying Navy ships at sea. Additionally, two on-board Navy MH-60 helicopters will provide vertical replenishment.
Three other MSC ships, the 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez, Sgt. William R. Button and USNS Charlton from Oct. 3-13 took turns pulling into the port of Philadelphia. The vessels loaded more than 400,000 square feet of combat gear destined for deployed U.S. forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The SIU-crewed, noncombatant cargo ships were loaded with five-ton trucks, trailers, generators, helicopters and ambulances for use by the U.S. Army National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division, also known as the Rainbow Division, based out of Troy, N.Y.
MarAd vessels to deploy included the Cape Rise, Cape Race, Cape Douglas, Cape Knox and the Cape Wrath. Part of MarAd’s Ready Reserve Force (RRF), these vessels—each laden with huge caches of military supplies and equipment—last month departed ports in Norfolk, Va., Charleston, S.C., New Orleans, and Baltimore for several destinations in the Middle East. They are part of a fleet of 68 ships owned and maintained by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration. The ships are crewed by Seafarers who volunteered for this potentially hazardous duty.
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