SS Gem State (T-ACS-2) berthed in Alameda, CA
tactical combat ready supply ships heavy crane berth The Ready Reserve Force program was initiated in 1976 as a subset of the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) National Defense Reserve Fleet to support the rapid worldwide deployment of military forces. As a key element of Department of Defense strategic sealift, the RRF primarily supports transport of Army and Marine Corps unit equipment, combat support and initial resupply during the critical surge period The RRF provides nearly one-half of the government-owned surge sealift capability. The program began with 6 ships in 1977, and now consists of 46 ships including: 35 roll-on/roll off vessels which includes 8 Fast Sealift Support vessels two heavy-lift or barge carrying ships, six auxiliary craneships, one tanker, and two aviation repair vessels. These outported locations are coordinated with military planners and chosen to minimize sailing time to strategic loadout ports. RRF ships are also used as training platforms for cargo handling by Navy and Army units and for homeland security training by various law enforcement agencies. RRF ships are expected to be fully operational within their assigned 5 and 10-day readiness status and sail to designated loading berths. Commercial ship managers provide systems maintenance, equipment repairs, logistics support, activation, manning, and operations management by contract. Ships in priority readiness have Reduced Operating Status crews of about 10 commercial merchant mariners Alameda Naval Air Station. MARAD will give berth to 11 ships of its Ready Reserve fleet to transport equipment, supplies and vehicles for military-support operations worldwide. They are manned 24 hours a day, and each ship has a standing/sitting crew of 8-10. ARRA has contracted with Trident-3M Services, a start-up local company comprised of former military and civilian workers, to provide all the necessary port services
Size: 4954px × 3260px
Location: Alameda, California USA
Photo credit: © M2 Photography / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., berth, combat, crane, dock, force, gem, heavy, lifeboat, preparedness, ready, ship, ss, state, strike, supply, tactical, war, water
