SDDC rotates Marines from Haitian duty
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ALEXANDRIA, Va., (USTCNS) --- On schedule, the Caribe Merchant arrived at the sea buoy off Port Everglades, Fla., just after 6 a.m.
It is July 1.
The last official act in America's latest support for the impoverished country of Haiti is about to begin.
The Caribe Merchant carries 100 pieces of cargo-bound for Camp Lejeune, N.C.?that ends the U.S. Marine Corps involvement in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations in Haiti. At one time, the United States mission numbered 3,600 and included French, Canadian and Chilean forces.
The United Nations officially assumed the mission June 25 and a Brazilian-led force of 6,700 troops and more than 1,000 international police now patrol Haiti.
Crowley Liner Service workers reacted immediately as Caribe Merchant came to dockside at the firm's Port Everglades terminal.
"This is sweeping the port," said Ed Fortunato, vice president?government business development. "We're getting all their stuff out."
Crowley has been providing the Marines sustainment cargoes in weekly ship runs since April, said Fortunato.
The equipment brought back includes one of SDDC's Mobile Port Operating Centers, which was reported to have worked within the challenges of the operation.
The speed of roll-on/roll-off operations was quickly evident as equipment of all kinds was driven off the rear ramp of the vessel. Crowley partnered with Landstar System, Inc., of Jacksonville, Fla., for the land movement. Much of the equipment was immediately transshipped by truck as it came off the ship.
SDDC was represented by a small detachment from the 832nd Transportation Battalion, Jacksonville, Fla., led by Capt. Andrea Robinson, movement control officer.
"Everything is going well," said Robinson, a Reservist from Miami now completing her second year of active duty with the command.
"I think it is awesome," said Robinson. "It does me great honor to serve the country."
Robinson has served 10 months in Kuwait supporting SDDC operations. In civilian life she leads a non-governmental support group for women.
The move was a classic action emphasizing industry partnership. In order to have all the military load on the same vessel, Crowley executives cut a scheduled ship stop at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and turned over 100 pieces of commercial cargo to competitors.
"The move was definitely a challenge," said Rinus Schepen, senior vice president and general manager?Latin America service.
Schepen said continuing changes in the cargo manifest and maintaining documentation was the biggest challenge of the move.
"We like to see what our people can accomplish," said Schepen, a 36-year veteran of maritime service. "At the end, everything worked out."
Schepen reflects on Haiti.
"Haiti is a beautiful country," said Schepen. "But, it is one of the poorest in the world. Poverty has probably increased.
"I hope it is the start of a new chapter of democracy, reduced corruption and international assistance. They deserve it?they are good people and a good country.
"The military and Crowley can be proud of what we have done."
U.S. Marines watched the quick unloading with enthusiasm.
Gunnery Sgt. Timothy Cyr has been in Haiti since March 7.
"The heat was not so bad," said Cyr. There is humidity but I think the humidity is worse here.
"The worst thing about Haiti is the smell and the poverty," said the veteran of overseas service in Desert Storm and the African countries of Somalia and Djibouti.
"The first thing I noticed here was the lack of smell."
Shipping company executives credited much of the success of the move with their Haitian shipping agent.
"We did a great job but it was a total team effort," said Philippe Blamby, of Enmarcolda S.A., of Port-au-Prince.
"Things are much, much better now in Haiti," said Blamby, a former resident of New York City. "The bad elements are going. Nothing is on the scale of what it was."
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