Seafarers and officers from the car carrier Alliance New York on Dec. 28 welcomed U.S. military personnel on board for an informal holiday feast while the vessel was docked in Ash Shuaybah, Kuwait.Approximately 50 U.S. troops dined aboard the roll-on/roll-off ship, which is enrolled in the U.S. Maritime Security Program (MSP).
“The crew went above and beyond making the troops feel at home and providing them a release for the holidays,” said Bob Wellner, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Liberty Global Logistics, the vessel operator.
The following SIU members were sailing aboard the Alliance New York when the event took place: Bosun Thomas Flanagan, ABs Jerry Foke, James Wilby, Jack Jackson and Christopher Brady, GUDEs Zamalo Only and Antony Arzu, OMU Clay McIver, Chief Steward Peter Williams, Chief Cooks Bruce Johnson and Henry Greene, GSTU Jose Santos, and UAs Corey Overbeck, Ravon Moore and Arthur Jones.
The ship’s master, Costas Balomenos, said the steward department “went all out and did a spectacular job.”
In a message to the company, Balomenos noted, “We went through four prime roast and 25 pounds of ribs, plus a lot of homemade pastries and baked goods. A big hit was some of the soldiers taking frozen U.S. milk from our storing home with them…. We had the cadets and unlicensed apprentices giving tours of the ship. The steward wrapped up ‘doggie bags’ of food and dessert favorites for many. The troops made our port stay, and I think we made their day.”
The captain added that they presented the troops with holiday gift bags, including extras to be taken to other soldiers who didn’t attend the meal.
Built in 2005, the Alliance New York is 665 feet long and has a beam of 105.8 feet. The diesel-powered vessel (19,217 hp) has a speed of 20.5 knots and a total deck area of nearly 585,000 square feet.
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