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Prepositioned Sea-Based Disaster Relief Platform Concept DRAFT. U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration November 2005. Maritime Administration
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Prepositioned Sea-BasedDisaster Relief Platform ConceptDRAFT U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration November 2005
Maritime Administration The mission of the Maritime Administration (MARAD) is to promote the development and maintenance of an adequate, well-balanced, United States merchant marine: sufficient to carry the Nation's domestic waterborne commerce and a substantial portion of its waterborne foreign commerce, and capable of serving as a naval and military auxiliary in time of war or national emergency MARAD also seeks to ensure that the United States enjoys adequate shipbuilding and repair service, efficient ports, effective intermodal water and land transportation systems, and reserve shipping capacity in time of national emergency Ready Reserve Force (RRF) The red,white, and blue stripes on the gray stack identify vessels as part of the Maritime Administration’s Ready Reserve Force (RRF). MARAD, with the help of a private sector ship managers, maintains the ships for rapid activation and service in supporting the Department of Defense About MARAD and the RRF
Disaster Relief Challenges ? Relief and repair vehicles might be available, but access to affected areas might not!
Disaster Relief Challenges Lack of information can result in a mismatch of needed supplies with actual needs, resulting in both over- and under-supplied areas
U.S. Disaster ResponseFrom The Sea • Prepo Ships on each coast outfitted with: • Industrial Ice-making system • Additional power generation units • Additional water making capability • Vehicle for ice, water, food, and supply distribution • Electrical utility repair vehicles and equipment • Heavy construction equipment for clearing debris • Temporary housing materials • Food and medical supplies • Communications and Multimedia Equipment
Caribbean Disaster Response • Recent U.S. disaster relief to Caribbean basin and Central America has relied primarily on U.S. Military Aircraft • Disadvantages to Aircraft: • Very expensive to fly ice and plastic sheeting • Damaged runways • Uses up finite airframe flying hours • Overtaxes airlift, particularly if other military operations are ongoing • Advantages to Sealift: • Can put much larger response on the ground • Why fly ice when you can make it on the ship?
About Maritime Prepositioning • Equipment, fuel, and supplies stored aboard forward deployed ships in strategic ports or harbors • Began in the 1980s • MARAD RRF assets have participated in long standing Army and Marine Corp Prepositioning programs • Good planning equals success: Prepositioned ships first in the Gulf during Operation Enduring Freedom within 24 hours
Potential RRF Assets • Cape Lambert (ex Federal Lakes) • Cape Lobos (ex Federal Seaway) • Significant Activities: • Activated to support relief operation in Haiti (1994), only RO/RO capable of unloading at pier
The Cape “L” Class Vessels • Features useful for Prepositioned Disaster Relief Mission • Shallow draft • Dual side ramps and Deck hatch • Low pier loading • Twin screw propulsion, enhances maneuverability • All cargo below the weather deck • Can carry large mix of vehicles from utility trailers up to Tanks • Significantly less expensive than U.S. Navy Vessels • DedicatedU.S. Merchant Marine Crew
Ship Upgrade Costs“A La Carte Menu” Mix and Match Items Choose what is needed and can afford Flexibility to add more options later
Ship Modifications • Reverse Osmosis/Purification Unit (ROPU) to make large amounts of clean water and ice for distribution ashore • Extra generators for power supply from ship to shore • Added quarters and galleys for supporting crew and hotel services
Supplies Available on Day One • 1,000,000 Gallons of Fresh Water Per Day • 30,000 Bags of Ice Per Day • Plastic Sheeting and Tarps • A variety of Vehicles, up to 300 • 2,400 Kilowatts of Power • Based on: • 3 ROPUS @ 1,300 Tons per Day each • 3 Industrial Ice Makers @ 40 Tons per Day each • 2 Generators with 1,200 KW Capacity • With Preposition Ships established, supplies are ready as needed with no time wasted establishing contracts or delivery
Ship Payload • Bulldozers • Tractor Trailers and Cabs • Tanker trucks • Power Line Repair vehicles • Emergency Response Vehicles • Police cars • Ambulances
Focal Point for Initial Relief • Self sustaining ship can function as a Mobile Command Post, providing: • Communications for co-coordinating relief efforts • Media Center • Medical Support • Berthing for support staff • Accommodation for “Embedded” Reporters • Patrol boats for scouting affected areas and providing first responder security
Other Capabilities in the RRF Deck for Helicopter Operations and VERTREP Tank-tainers: Safely store fuel and water on ship’s weather deck Self-unloading Cargo Cranes Storage for mobile berthing Mobile Repair Facilities: Containerized machine shops
Quick Relief Response • Ship can follow into “Ground Zero” within 12 to 24 hours of event • Virtually immediate, and highly visible, Federal Response
Readiness Options • Option 1: Reduced Operating Status (ROS) • Ship ready for sea at least four days • Reduced Crew (10 mariners) aboard for preventative maintenance until vessel activated • Cost are involved to activate and deactivate • Cost per ship: • $10,000 a day in ROS • $500,000 for each activation • $500,000 for deactivation • $30,000 a day for each day vessel is activated • Option 2: Full Operating Status (FOS) Crew • Ship always ready for sea • Full Crew compliment (30 mariners) aboard for preventative maintenance, training • No cost for activation/deactivation • Cost per ship: • $30,000 a day
Cost Comparison (per ship) • Five activations (with an average of fifteen days of vessel operation) for a vessel in Reduced Operation Status (ROS) is approximately equal to keeping a vessel in Full Operating Status (FOS)
Starting the Process • Identification of Requirements • Request MARAD for a Proposal and Estimate • Find funding and mission sponsor • Cost of vessels depend on capabilities and readiness requirements • Give the order • Start ship modifications and shipyard periods • Four months estimated to achieve initial operating capability • Crew vessel for Preposition Mission (ROS versus FOS options)