United States Transportation Command

NAPLES, Italy (USTCNS) -- On June 11, 2001, Military Sealift Command, Europe began the eighth Unified Charger 2001-an exercise simulating the movement of heavy combat equipment and supplies at four commercial ports throughout Europe.

MSC Europe personnel, along with over 40 members from its five stateside reserve units, have assembled to simulate the movement of military cargo by sea -or 'sealift' operations-in the event of a mass mobilization of military cargo to continental Europe. In the event of a major mobilization of U.S. military cargo overseas, 95% would be deployed by sea.

At MSCEUR, naval reservists support sealift requirements throughout the year, and are key players during wartime or other contingencies. When mobilized, reserve personnel quickly take charge of establishing and running MSC port offices, anywhere in the theater to assist with sealift operations wherever needed. During this exercise, port offices have been established at Rota, Spain, Naples, Italy, and Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Port offices coordinate a wide-variety of functions to support the ship, such as on-load and off-load operations, shore services, ship repairs, and on-site personnel support.

At MSCEUR headquarters, Naples, Italy, reservists have established a "crisis action team" which serves as the operations center, handling the increased communications and information exchange necessary to run multiple ports, and manage increased cargo operations.

MSC is working with its partner under U.S. Transportation Command, the U.S. Army's Military Traffic Management Command, to coordinate activities at the port. MSC moves cargo by sea, while MTMC loads and unloads the ships, and moves cargo to and from the port.

Unified Charger provides reservists with valuable 'hands on' experience with dock and cargo operations at European commercial ports, in various scenarios. Reservists spend two weeks learning the variety of challenges in a real world situation. Objectives are to train MSC personnel, both reserve and active duty.

The exercise also includes the set-up and manning of MSC's Mobile Sealift Operations Center (MSOC) van-a cargo container configured as an 'office,' with advanced communications capability, including global satellite communications. The van is fully self-sustained, can be operational in just a few hours, and can be deployed to ports where the infrastructure, such as local communication lines and power, is not available. (FROM THE MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND, EUROPE, NEWS SERVICE)

Military Sealift Command, Europe kicks off crisis response exercise

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