Bright Star Cargo: Round-the-clock discharge ensures mission success
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (USTCNS) --- As the USNS Mendonca pulled into Pier 14 at the Norfolk Naval Station in the dark, predawn hours, we were ready.
With the ship's stow plan in hand, members of the 1174th Transportation Terminal Battalion, Fort Totten, N.Y., waited patiently.
With our partners, we were ready to move into action to discharge 600 pieces of cargo returning from Operation Bright Star, in Egypt.
Beginning Dec. 1, we worked closely with a deployment support team from the 832nd Transportation Battalion, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, and members of the Fort Eustis-based 7th Transportation Group.
We worked around the clock in order to ensure Mendonca would depart on time Dec. 6. To meet this requirement, we divided into two teams working 12-hour shifts.
"This exercise was of great training value," said Lt. Col. Robert Oliveras, commander, 832nd Transportation Battalion. "It showed the seamless integration of both Active and Reserve components to complete the mission.
"Mission accomplishment is important - and even more important is to accomplish the mission and do it safely."
In all, the Mendonca carried 597 pieces of cargo. This cargo included 200 containers, 234-wheeled vehicles, and an assorted array of heavy engineer equipment.
As an added challenge, we used cranes to unload the heaviest vehicles directly to Army watercraft alongside the ship. The equipment was then moved by water to Fort Eustis to avoid movement over local highways.
After staging the cargo, it was transshipped to such military bases as Fort Polk, La.; Fort Huachuca, Ariz.; and Fort Carson, Col.
We found 83 pieces of cargo without documentation. Our Worldwide Port System section sprang into action and created records for the missing pieces.
"Our unit hasn't done a download such as this in quite a while," said Maj. Damon Taylor, battalion officer-in-charge. "This gave us a good overview of all the many details that are required to accomplish our mission."
In April, the battalion loaded the prepositioning vessel USNS Watkins, a large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ship in Charleston, S.C.
(FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
With the ship's stow plan in hand, members of the 1174th Transportation Terminal Battalion, Fort Totten, N.Y., waited patiently.
With our partners, we were ready to move into action to discharge 600 pieces of cargo returning from Operation Bright Star, in Egypt.
Beginning Dec. 1, we worked closely with a deployment support team from the 832nd Transportation Battalion, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, and members of the Fort Eustis-based 7th Transportation Group.
We worked around the clock in order to ensure Mendonca would depart on time Dec. 6. To meet this requirement, we divided into two teams working 12-hour shifts.
"This exercise was of great training value," said Lt. Col. Robert Oliveras, commander, 832nd Transportation Battalion. "It showed the seamless integration of both Active and Reserve components to complete the mission.
"Mission accomplishment is important - and even more important is to accomplish the mission and do it safely."
In all, the Mendonca carried 597 pieces of cargo. This cargo included 200 containers, 234-wheeled vehicles, and an assorted array of heavy engineer equipment.
As an added challenge, we used cranes to unload the heaviest vehicles directly to Army watercraft alongside the ship. The equipment was then moved by water to Fort Eustis to avoid movement over local highways.
After staging the cargo, it was transshipped to such military bases as Fort Polk, La.; Fort Huachuca, Ariz.; and Fort Carson, Col.
We found 83 pieces of cargo without documentation. Our Worldwide Port System section sprang into action and created records for the missing pieces.
"Our unit hasn't done a download such as this in quite a while," said Maj. Damon Taylor, battalion officer-in-charge. "This gave us a good overview of all the many details that are required to accomplish our mission."
In April, the battalion loaded the prepositioning vessel USNS Watkins, a large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ship in Charleston, S.C.
(FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
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