US Navy Cargo Vessel Delivers Aid to Gaza

Jerusalem, 28 April, 2024 (TPS) -- The US Navy’s Bob Hope-class MV Roy P. Benavidez (T-AKR 306), a large, medium speed roll-on, roll-off ship, is seen here off the coast of central Gaza.

MV Roy P. Benavidez, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Ready Reserve Fleet, is transporting components for a floating modular pier system which will be delivered to the U.S. Army’s 7th Transportation Brigade who will construct the temporary pier in the Mediterranean.

The ship is part of new joint US/Israeli efforts to increase the distribution of aid to Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) through COGAT (Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories: Judea and Samaria and towards the Gaza Strip) last week approved a new initiative of the US Military’s Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) in Gaza, led by the US Military’s Central Command (CENTCOM). The IDF said that this initiative will “streamline and expand” the introduction of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

The U.S. military explains that JLOTS is a critical joint capability that enables U.S. forces to enter a land area from sea despite insufficient port infrastructure.

“JLOTS is a critical capability that allows ship-to-shore cargo distribution in the absence of a usable pier,” said Army Lt. Gen. John P. Sullivan, deputy commander, U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM). “It can be used to augment an established port or to create a pier where one is needed and allows us to support areas where large populations are isolated from food, water, and other forms of humanitarian aid.”

Operated by Military Sealift Command for the current JLOTS mission, MV Roy P. Benavidez is crewed by contracted merchant mariners and is a dry cargo surge sealift carrier capable of transporting up to 380,000 square feet of containerized cargo and rolling stock between developed ports.

Gaza, Apr 27, 2024.
Photo by Majdi Fathi/TPS