Central Currents

Military Sealift Command long-term charter tanker MV Lawrence H. Gianella (right) prepares to transfer fuel to MSC charter MT Sanmar Sonata off the coast of Raysut, Oman.

Military Sealift Command Central said farewell to oilers USNS Rappahannock and USNS John Ericsson. Rappahannock entered the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility on Oct. 12, 2001. During the next three months, the ship delivered more than 13,000 gallons of fuel and 1,400 pieces of cargo to various U.S. and allied ships in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea. Ericsson entered the Fifth Fleet area of operations June 15, 2001. She was originally scheduled to leave in October or November 2001, but she continued to support both U.S. and allied forces in the Persian Gulf and the north Arabian Sea until Jan. 15. By the time she transferred to the Seventh Fleet, the ship had off-loaded almost 100 million gallons of fuel and more than 4,800 pieces of cargo. Congratulations to the crews aboard both ships.

Oiler USNS John Lenthall entered the Fifth Fleet area through the Suez Canal from the Mediterranean Sea on Jan. 6. In the short time the ship has been operating in the area, Lenthall has delivered about 5 million gallons of fuel to allied and U.S. ships in the northern Arabian Sea.

Crane ship SS Cornhusker State (right) transfers containers Jan. 1 to USAV Lt. Gen. William B. Bunker -- a U.S. Army logistic support vessel.

While entering the northern Arabian Sea on Jan. 9, Lenthall received a call from a foreign-flagged ocean-going tug. A U.S. crewmember aboard the foreign ship was experiencing back pain and required further medical attention. Lenthall was the first to respond to the call. The tug sent the ailing crewmember via small boat to Lenthall. The medical services officer aboard Lenthall diagnosed the individual with a possible slipped disk. A helicopter then transported the individual from Lenthall to USS Bridge. The ailing man was then taken to Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, for further medical evaluation and repatriation to the United States.

Ready Reserve Force crane ship SS Cornhusker State arrived in Diego Garcia Jan. 10 after completing cargo operations in the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility. Cornhusker State is a U.S. Maritime Administration ship activated by MSC to transport ordnance. The ship was activated to deliver several containers of cargo in the Central Command area. Her first cargo operation was in Raysut, Oman, where she off-loaded 74 containers of ammunition in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The cargo was off-loaded on Dec. 22, 2001. MSC Central representatives helped coordinate the evolution.

Her next operation took place in the northern Persian Gulf. Cornhusker State transferred 40 containers Jan. 1 to USAV Lt. Gen. William B. Bunker -- a U.S. Army logistic support vessel currently layberthed in Kuwait. U.S. and allied warships provided escort and force protection during the evolution. Lt. Cmdr. Robert Lynch, USNR, directed cargo operations aboard Cornhusker State and reported the status to MSC Central. Lynch is assigned to Naval Reserve Unit MSC Office Southern Persian Gulf 101 from the Naval Reserve Center in Quincy, Mass. Cornhusker State remains in Diego Garcia waiting for her next mission. Bravo Zulu to Capt. Bernie Fitzgerald and crew!

Long-term-chartered tanker MV Lawrence H. Gianella and MT Sanmar Sonata performed a ship-to-ship transfer of jet fuel while anchored off the coast of Raysut, Oman.

MSC Central welcomes two new senior petty officers to the staff. YN1(SW) Byron Britt, USN, is the new assistant administrative officer for the command. SK1(SW) David Sands, USN, reported aboard as the new supply officer.