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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| MARAD Orders More Ships to Assist in Haitian Relief |
| 2010-01-18 |
| Pictures at site -- these are some heavy duty ships! Got big jobs they can do Three of five Merchant Marine ships being mobilized for duty in Haiti are from Hampton Roads. The U.S. Maritime Administration announced Monday that MV Gopher State, MV Cornhusker State and SS Cape May will join OPDS Petersburg from California and M/V Huakai from Hawaii. "Sending these ships will help those on the front line of this effort save as many lives in Haiti as possible," Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said. "These ships will add crucial capabilities by supporting operations to move large volumes of people and cargo." Acting Maritime Administrator David T. Matsuda added, "These ships and skilled crews are ideally suited to assist in Haiti by providing unique capabilities. One cargo ship can carry as much as 400 fully loaded cargo planes." No time frame was given on their projected departure. They join these naval vessels there from this report The Ships of the Haitian Response Force also posted |
| Posted by:Sherry |
| #3 Looks like they'll need them. Port au Prince harbor. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2010-01-18 21:03 |
| #2 M/V Huakai is a new high-speed passenger and vehicle ferry capable of speeds of nearly 40 knots in the open ocean. MV Gopher State and MV Cornhusker State are TACS crane ships designed to provide the capability to load and unload containers and other cargo in ports where facilities are badly damaged or nonexistent. Can also carry containers, small barges, or landing craft. OPDS Petersburg is an Offshore Petroleum Discharge System tanker specially modified to deliver petroleum products to military forces in areas where port facilities are damaged or non-existent. SS Cape May is a sea barge clipper class (SEABEE) vessel. Cargo is barges, sections of causeway and other materials used by SEABEES, or 110-foot Coast Guard patrol boats. Can also carry bulk and containerized cargo. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2010-01-18 19:27 |
| #1 Whoa, the MV GOPHER STATE + CAPE MAY - haven't seen or heard these ship names in a long while. My first guess was that they were sold or sunk to form part of FLORIDA'S NEW ARTIFIC OFFSHORE REEFS. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-01-18 18:47 |