Seafarers continue to support U.S. armed forces by delivering an array of goods to servicemen and women in the Middle East for the latest sealift component of Operation Iraqi Freedom, known as OIF3.SIU members since late last year have been backing the newest phase on the war by transporting food, supplies and munitions to U.S. troops in the Middle East for OIF3. SIU-crewed vessels serving the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) and docked in ports along the country’s east, west and Gulf coasts in late November began mobilizing for this stage of the ongoing mission. Meanwhile, other SIU-crewed ships including prepositioning vessels continued their respective involvement.
As of press time for this edition of the Seafarers LOG, 37 Seafarers-crewed MSC vessels still were sailing for OIF3—10 fewer vessels than last month at about the same time. More than 600 SIU members currently are crewing these ships. In excess of 700 SIU members signed up for duty during the initial activations. Just as during military support missions before and during the all-out combat phase of the war in Iraq and OIF2 along with missions in Afghanistan, Seafarers again are tasked to deliver materiel to U.S. armed forces in the Middle East.
The SIU-crewed vessels currently mobilized in support of OIF3 include: Cape Jacob, USNS Altair, USNS Bellatrix, USNS Capella, USNS Stockham, Cape Intrepid, Cape Island, Cape Wrath, USNS Chesapeake, USNS Petersburg, Westward Venture, Cape Knox, Cape Kennedy, Cape Victory, Cape Vincent, USNS Dahl, USNS Pomeroy, USNS Red Cloud, USNS Sisler, USNS Soderman, USNS Watkins, USNS Watson, Cape Domingo, Cape Ducato, Cape Horn, Cape Hudson, Cape Texas, Cape Trinity, USNS Brittin, USNS Benevidez, USNS Bob Hope, USNS Fisher, USNS Mendonca and the USNS Pililau.
Thousands of SIU members crewed 100-plus vessels in support of U.S. troops during the first phase of OIF. Dozens of SIU-crewed vessels remained active in the massive OIF2 resupply mission that commenced early last year. MSC reported that U.S.-flag ships carried heavy volumes of combat service support gear for forces working to steady Iraq. Overall, approximately 24 million square feet of cargo belonging to nine units in the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and National Guard was moved by ship during OIF2.
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