USNS
Montford Point (MLP 1) departed San Diego July 12 for Naval Station
Everett, Wash. Montford Point is the Navy's first mobile landing platform,
delivered to the Navy in San Diego May 14, and is expected to be fully
operational in fiscal year 2015. The ship, crewed by 33 contract mariners
working for a company under charter to Military Sealift Command, will
perform system tests during the voyage to its temporary layberth.
Montford Point is scheduled for final contract trials in September,
with its core capability set installed later this year.
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The Navy's
second MLP, John Glenn, had its keel laid in December, with completion
and delivery expected in March 2014.
The MLP class of modular, flexible ships belongs to MSC's Maritime Prepositioning
Force as a mobile sea-base option that provides our Navy fleet with
critical afloat capability, supporting the flexible deployment of forces
and supplies. Contract mariners will operate and navigate the MLP ships
on behalf of the Navy and Marine Corps.
"Montford Point will provide the key link - 'the pier in the ocean'
- that will permit the military to engage in true seabasing sustainment
of equipment and supplies to our troops ashore, from beyond the horizon,"
said Mike Touma, assistant engineering officer in MSC's Prepositioning
Program. |
Designed
to increase inter-theater agility, the MLP is ready to support our warfighters
wherever and whenever needed. MLP is a highly flexible ship class that
provides logistics movement from sea to shore supporting a broad range
of military operations.
Leveraging float-on/float-off technology and a reconfigurable
mission deck to maximize capability, the MLP provides a seagoing pier
when access to on-shore bases and support are unavailable. The platform
includes add-on modules that support a vehicle staging area, vehicle
transfer ramp, large mooring fenders and up to three Landing Craft,
Air Cushioned vessel lanes to enhance its core requirements.
Notably, the MLP can operate up to 25 miles from shore and transfer
equipment at sea with 1.25-meter waves and when its mission deck is
removed, it can serve as a semi-submersible platform, offering salvage
and point-to-point capabilities as well.
Military Sealift Command operates approximately 110 noncombatant, U.S.
Navy civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized
missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world,
and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and
coalition partners.
From Military Sealift Command Public Affairs |
