PM 342 Dry Cargo (Commercial Charter)

During wartime or other contingencies, our Navy charters dry cargo ships under contract to MSC to move cargo as needed. These ships carry items that are too large to fit in containers, such as engineering and construction equipment, military vehicles, aircraft and ammunition.

• Nearly all peacetime DoD Cargo is carried by U.S.-flagged commercial ships. But during wartime or other contingencies, MSC has the flexibility to charter ships to move cargo as needed.
• MSC can expand beyond commercial capability by activating ships from its government owned surge fleet, including Ready Reserve Force ships from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration.
• Most DoD cargo is transported in containers aboard regularly scheduled U.S. commercial liners coordinated by the U.S. Army's Surface Deployment and Distribution Command.
• MSC's dry cargo ships carry items that are too large to fit in containers, such as engineering and construction equipment, military vehicles, aircraft and ammunition.
• Liner Service is commercial ocean carrier service that operates on a fixed route calling on the same ports on a regularly scheduled basis, i.e. weekly, etc. Vessel loading/discharge is handled by carrier at commercial terminals.