Military Sealift Command buys three prepositioning ships

Washington, D.C. (USTCNS) --- On Jan. 17, the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command purchased three Maritime Prepositioning Ships that had previously been under long-term charter to the command from Braintree II, III and IV Maritime Corps. of Quincy, Mass. The ships are operated by the Braintree companies and the American Overseas Marine Corp. The options to purchase these ships were part of the original contracts, which were delivered to MSC in 1985 and 1986.

MV PFC Dewayne T. Williams, MV 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez, MV 1st Lt. Jack Lummus are among 16 MPS ships that preposition U.S. Marine Corps cargo at sea around the world, making it readily available to warfighters who are flown into theaters of operation during wartime and other contingencies. These ships are a key element of the U.S. military’s rapid response capabilities. Williams operates in the Mediterranean; Lopez operates in the Indian Ocean; and Lummus operates in the western Pacific.

The following companies received $70 million for the purchase of each ship: Braintree II for the purchase of Williams; Braintree III for the purchase of Lopez; and Braintree IV for the purchase of Lummus.

MSC will currently retain Braintree II, III, and IV Maritime Corps. and their operating company, American Overseas Marine Corp. They are responsible for the operation and maintenance of each ship, which includes providing qualified crew members and performing necessary maintenance. Each ship is operated by 29 commercial mariners.

MSC operates more than 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move approximately 90 percent of military equipment and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces.