Sealift Ships – 28 (as of Sept. 30, 2004) Tankers – 6 USNS Paul Buck (T-AOT 1122) USNS Samuel L. Cobb    (T-AOT 1123) MV Gus Darnell (T-AOT 1121)* USNS Lawrence H. Gianella    (T-AOT 1125) USNS Richard G. Matthiesen    (T-AOT 1124) MV Montauk* Dry Cargo ships – 3 MV American Tern (T-AK 4729)* MV Sagamore* MV Sea Mark III (DRSS)* Large, medium-speed, roll-on/    roll-off ships – 11 USNS Benavidez (T-AKR 306) USNS Brittin (T-AKR 305) USNS Fisher (T-AKR 301) USNS Gilliland (T-AKR 298) USNS Gordon (T-AKR 296) USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR 300) USNS Mendonca (T-AKR 303) USNS Pililaau (T-AKR 304) USNS Seay (T-AKR 302) USNS Shughart (T-AKR 295) USNS Yano (T-AKR 297) Fast Sealift Ships – 8 USNS Algol (T-AKR 287) USNS Altair (T-AKR 291) USNS Antares (T-AKR 294) USNS Bellatrix (T-AKR 288) USNS Capella (T-AKR 293) USNS Denebola (T-AKR 289) USNS Pollux (T-AKR 290) USNS Regulus (T-AKR 292) *Long-term charter

n FY 2004, the Sealift Program delivered the combat cargo and equipment needed by U.S. forces engaged in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the global war on terrorism and peacekeeping operations in Eastern Europe, as well as general cargo for other day-to-day missions for the Department of Defense around the world.

In addition to MSC's 23 government-owned and five long-term, commercially chartered dry cargo ships and tankers, the 59 ships of the U.S. Maritime Administration's Ready Reserve Force come under MSC's operational control when they are activated. These government-owned ships offset a lack of suitable military cargo ships in the U.S. commercial sector. The RRF ships are normally kept in reduced operating status. MSC charters additional commercial ships whenever mission requirements call for more capacity.

Tanker Project

During FY 2004, Tanker Project ships moved 45.65 million barrels, or 1.92 billion gallons, of fuel for the Department of Defense. Fifty ships made a total of 256 voyages. The majority of the workload was carried by MSC's five T-5 or Champion-class tankers and MV Montauk, a small, 30,000-barrel capacity ship operating between Japan and Korea. Of the remaining ships, four were U.S. flag and the other 40 were foreign flag. Seventy-five percent of all voyages were made on U.S. flag ships that carried 70 percent of the fuel moved by Tanker Project ships. This is a slight decrease from prior years and reflects the lack of U.S. flag commercial tankers operating in the international trades.

The specially fortified hull of MSC tanker USNS Lawrence H. Gianella has no problem plowing through ice and snow on her trek to Antarctica during Operation Deep Freeze.

MSC's tankers moved petroleum products to support operations at Thule, Greenland, and McMurdo Station, Antarctica. These missions were performed in extreme cold weather conditions and were the single annual fuel replenishment for both stations.

Dry Cargo Project

During FY 2004, the Dry Cargo Project was heavily engaged in moving vehicles, equipment and supplies for the rotation of forces in Iraq. MSC-owned and commercially chartered dry cargo ships delivered a total of 25.1 million square feet of cargo. This cargo was carried aboard 63 ships that made 198 voyages in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Cables move into place for cargo containers to be off-loaded from MSC’s fast sealift ship USNS Bellatrix. Photo by JO3 Eric L. Beauregard, USN.

Dry Cargo Project ships also supported numerous exercises in the U.S. Southern Command, U.S. European Command and U.S. Pacific Command areas of responsibility.

Other routine missions included voyages by three ships under long-term charter to MSC. MV Sagamore conducted re-supply missions for U.S. operations at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and MV Seamark III provided re-supply for Andros Island in the Bahamas. MV American Tern, an ice-strengthened ship, re-supplied Thule Air Base, Greenland, and the National Science Foundation operation at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. This once-a-year mission delivers much needed supplies and food to the remote station.

Surge Project

During mobilization for the continuing global war on terrorism, the MSC surge fleet of large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ships, or LMSRs, and fast sealift ships delivered 10.7 million square feet of cargo. This was approximately forty percent of the total dry cargo carried by all MSC government-owned and chartered ships during FY 2004.

Military Sealift Command ships unload cargo for Operation Iraqi Freedom in the port of Ash Shuaybah, Kuwait. Photo by JO3 Eric L. Beauregard, USN.

Wheeled and tracked military vehicles disembark from MSC large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Brittin in Bremerhaven, Germany. Photo by Ed Baxter.

The Surge Project fleet includes 11 LMSRs and eight fast sealift ships — all maintained in a four-day reduced operating status at various U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports. The LMSRs are especially suited for transporting heavy or bulky unit equipment such as tanks, large wheeled vehicles and helicopters.

Surge Project LMSRs were one of MSC's biggest success stories during the FY 2004 deployment phase of the Operation Iraqi Freedom troop and equipment rotation. The LMSRs were activated in an average of three days and maintained an average speed of more than 17 knots throughout the deployment. With a 300,000 square foot capacity per ship, the 11 Surge Project LMSRs delivered more than 7.6 million square feet of cargo in 39 voyages. This averaged 194,540 square feet per ship per voyage. One LMSR effectively replaced six commercial ships chartered during Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s.

MSC's eight fast sealift ships, although older than the LMSRs, remain the fastest cargo ships in the world. They are capable of sailing from the U.S. East Coast to the Persian Gulf in 18 days. Each ship holds 150,000 square feet of cargo, and together they can carry nearly all the equipment needed to outfit a full Army mechanized division. The eight fast sealift ships delivered two million square feet of cargo for the Operation Iraqi Freedom FY 2004 deployment.

A U.S. Army Stryker combat vehicle, equipped with armor designed to repel rocket-propelled grenade attacks, drives aboard MV Cape Orlando during loading operations in the Port of Olympia, Wash. Photo by Larry “E”Crutchfield.

The Ready Reserve Force includes roll-on/roll-off ships, crane ships, breakbulk ships, heavy-lift ships and tankers. All of the roll-on/roll-off ships are maintained in a five-day reduced operating status with a nine-person crew aboard. The ships are berthed at ports throughout the U.S. East, Gulf and West Coasts near potential military loading sites.

Twenty-one RRF ships were activated for FY 2004 Operation Iraqi Freedom missions. This is significantly less than the 72 ships that sailed for Operation Desert Storm in 1991. However, the ships that sailed in FY 2004 proved to be far more reliable and delivered almost twice as much cargo – a credit to the U.S. Maritime Administration upgrade program.

A longshoreman signals the gantry crane operator as containers are loaded aboard MV Cape Orlando at the Port of Olympia in Olympia, Wash. Photo by Larry “E” Crutchfield.

Since Operation Desert Storm, older RRF breakbulk ships have been replaced with newer and more efficient roll-on/roll-off ships. MARAD also made significant improvements in RRF ship readiness, training and management oversight.

The RRF delivered 5.5 million square feet of cargo for Operation Iraqi Freedom in FY 2004.

A 10th Mountain Division transport vehicle is lowered into the cargo hold of fast sealift ship USNS Antares. Photo by Bill Cook.