USTRANSCOM chief cites need for faster cargo ships
The U.S. military needs increased access to cargo ships with faster loading and unloading capabilities to efficiently meet its response to future overseas conflicts, said Gen. John W. Handy, commander of the U.S. Transportation Command in testimony on Capitol Hill.
“OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) confirmed that the capability to load, sail and unload our military’s ‘surge’ unit equipment in time for it to be effective for the combatant commander is critical,” Handy told members of the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday. “Fast roll-on roll-off ships are the most effective means of meeting this surge requirement.”
According to the military’s Mobility Requirements Study 2005 (MRS-05), the total “organic” surge sealift requirement for defense cargoes should be 9.62 million square feet. However, during recent operations, the surge capability is only 6.81 million square feet.
During the U.S.-Iraq war, USTRANSCOM learned:
* The actual mean stow factor on surge ships is closer to 65 percent compared to the planned surge factor of 75 percent (further reducing capacity by 1.31 million square feet).
* The entire lift capacity of the Maritime Administration’s Ready Reserve Fleet was not used to transport surge unit equipment because of “cumbersome and lengthy” cargo handling on some ships.
“The capability of today’s surge fleet is well understood, and we look to the MSC (Military Sealift Command) to establish the correct vision for required future sealift mobility capabilities,” Handy said. “Additionally, fiscal commitments toward the research and development of high-speed strategic sealift are required to help meet future sealift needs.”
During the buildup of combat equipment for Operation Iraqi Freedom, USTRANSCOM relied heavily on its new fleet of 20 large medium speed roll-on/roll-off (LMSR) ships for transport. One LMSR can carry the same amount of cargo as six commercial cargo ships that were used during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. It would require the military to use 300 C-17 flights to move the same amount of cargo carried by one LMSR, Handy said.
Handy also pointed out the military’s need for continued access to U.S.-flag militarily useful commercial cargo ships.
Under the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA), the military has access to commercial U.S.-flag ships and their related intermodal infrastructures in return for peacetime business preferences. Although generally not used for surge activities, VISA participants move more than 80 percent of wartime sustainment cargoes.
USTRANSCOM also hopes to benefit from the reauthorized and expanded Maritime Security Program (MSP). The 2003 Maritime Security Act will increase the MSP fleet from 47 ships to 60 U.S.-flag commercial ships. The additional MSP vessel slots are expected to be filled with specialty cargo ships, such as roll-on/roll-off and heavy-lift, Handy said.
Handy added that USTRANSCOM will work with MarAd to evaluate civilian mariner qualifications for peacetime and wartime operations, and ensure an adequate pool of mariners are available to operate cargo ships during wartime.