Gaza - Israel Conflict ~ Naval Aspects

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Intelschizo reposted:
Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping)
USNS 2nd Lt John P Bobo Has Engine Fire and Aborts Gaza Mission | Status of Other Ships

USAV Besson delayed in Azores
USAV Wilson Wharf stuck in Tenerife
USNS Bobo engine fire and return to Jacksonville

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz7nhnLzkEs&t=26s

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US Navy ship on way to Gaza forced to turn back due to engine room fire, spokesperson says

A US Navy ship en route to the eastern Mediterranean to help the US military set up a pier for aid to Gaza had to turn back last week after experiencing a fire, a Navy spokesperson told CNN.

The ship, the USNS 2nd LT John P. Bobo, reported last Thursday that it had experienced a fire in the engine room while in transit to the eastern Mediterranean to deliver equipment and personnel, the spokesperson said.

It is not clear how the delay will affect the construction of the floating pier and causeway, which the Pentagon has said is expected to be operational by late April or early May.

“The crew evacuated the area and used portable extinguishers to put out the fire. All ship’s crew and military personnel are accounted for, and no injuries were reported,” the spokesperson said.
“The ship returned under its own power using one engine to Jacksonville, Fla., for further assessment. The cause of the fire is under investigation.”

The ship is one of several US Navy ships and Army watercraft that are en route to the waters off of Gaza to help build the pier, and is a support vessel rather than a key component of the construction of the system, called Joint Logistics over the Shore, or JLOTS.

The Pentagon said on March 8* that the pier would be built and operational within 60 days, and Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder says that timeline is still on track.

* https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/08/poli ... index.html

Source https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live ... 8cea88da4a Which contains other articles sourced today on the main topic - Izrael etc.

Navy Transport With Equipment, Personnel for Gaza Pier Back Home After Engine Fire

https://news.usni.org/2024/04/17/navy-t ... ngine-fire

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Pat Ryder Delivers Progress Update On Department Of Defense's Temporary Gaza Aid Pier Construction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MNN-yEe5pk

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U.S. Department of Defense LIVE TODAY Tranacript ~ 25th April 2024

Senior Officials Hold a Background Briefing

This a long article so scroll down to:

"Now, allow me to just go into some detail and review the concept of execution to give you an idea of how the maritime aid delivery corridor will work from Cyprus to the Sea to the Gaza shore.

First, humanitarian assistance comes into Cyprus via air or sea, where it's screened, palletized and prepared for delivery. We have already begun to see volumes of humanitarian assistance flow into Cyprus for further distribution, and we expect this flow of goodwill to continue. Upon receipt in Cyprus, pallets are then loaded onto commercial vessels that travel about 200 miles from Cyprus to a large floating platform anchored miles off the coast of Gaza."

"I would like to thank the United Kingdom for providing support for the coordination in Cyprus and also providing the ship RFA Cardigan Bay to support this mission. Hundreds of U.S. soldiers and sailors will live and sleep on Cardigan Bay at sea, and this is a requirement because of no U.S. boots on the ground."

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcript ... -briefing/

Some current media:
US troops begin construction of Gaza aid pier as questions remain over distribution
About 1,000 US troops will support the military construction efforts, but Joe Biden has ordered them not to set foot on the Gaza shore.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/ ... a-aid-pier

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wi ... -109629066

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/19/poli ... index.html

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OSINTdefender
Israeli and U.N. Officials have both now Confirmed that during a recent Inspection of the Temporary Jetty in Central Gaza that will be utilized in conjunction with the U.S. Army’s Floating Dock to bring Humanitarian Aid into Gaza, they were Attacked by Hamas Mortar Fire resulting in Damage to several Pieces of Engineering Equipment while causing the U.N. Team to be Rushed to Shelters by IDF Soldiers.

See https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel-a ... gaza-coast

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Royal Navy ship joins international effort to build pier for aid delivery into Gaza

Royal Navy support ship RFA Cardigan Bay is sailing from Cyprus to provide support to an international effort to build a temporary pier to allow delivery of humanitarian aid directly from the sea.

US ships and personnel have already begun construction of the temporary floating pier as part of ongoing work to significantly expand the delivery of lifesaving aid into Gaza.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing ship will provide accommodation for hundreds of US sailors and soldiers working to establish the pier. The pier will initially facilitate the delivery of 90 truckloads of international aid into Gaza and scale to up to 150 truckloads once fully operational, according to US estimates.

The multinational maritime corridor initiative will see tens of thousands of tonnes of aid pre-screened in Cyprus and delivered directly to Gaza via the temporary pier being constructed off the coast or via Ashdod Port, which Israel has said it will open.

Commanding Officer, Captain Simon Herbert RFA, said: “RFA Cardigan Bay has shown her flexibility and agility by reconfiguring her role as an Afloat Forward Support Base for MCM Operations, to being ready to support the international effort to construct a temporary pier to expand the flow of aid to Gaza via a sea route.

"Over the past few days we have embarked personnel from the US Army and Navy as well as UK specialist teams to facilitate the construction and operation of the pier, and to operate as a Command and control platform. I have been impressed by the dedication and professionalism of all on-board in preparing for this important humanitarian task.”

Continues https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... LqoM42NlNm

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British ship to support US military builds new Gaza pier

US ships and personnel have already begun construction of the temporary floating pier as part of ongoing work to significantly expand the delivery of lifesaving aid into Gaza.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing ship RFA Cardigan Bay will provide accommodation for hundreds of US sailors and soldiers working to establish the pier.

The pier will initially facilitate the delivery of 90 truckloads of international aid into Gaza and scale to up to 150 truckloads once fully operational, according to US estimates.

According to a statement: https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british ... gaza-pier/

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OSINTdefender
The Israeli Ministry of Defense has released Footage today showing the ongoing Construction of the Temporary Jetty in Central Gaza which will eventually be utilized by the U.S. Army’s Joint Logistics Over-The-Shore (JLOTS) Floating Dock to bring Humanitarian Aid into the Gaza Strip; this is the same Jetty which was recently Attacked by a Hamas Mortar Strike during a U.N. Inspection, causing Damage to several Pieces of Construction Equipment. Israel Defense Officials further revealed that both the Dock and Jetty will be under the Protection of the Israel Navy as well as a Reserve Unit of the Israel Defense Force on the Ground for the Duration of the Humanitarian Operation.
Video and photos https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status ... 2221361441

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UK forces may be deployed on the ground in Gaza to help deliver aid

British troops could be deployed on the ground in Gaza to help deliver aid via a new sea route, the BBC has learned.

The US has said no American forces would go ashore and an unnamed "third party" would drive trucks along a floating causeway onto the beach.

The UK is understood to be considering tasking British troops with this when the aid corridor opens next month.

Whitehall sources said no decision had been made and the issue had not yet crossed the prime minister's desk.

Continues https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68909511 & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH7x6VSz3KE

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RFA Cardigan Bay has sailed from Cyprus and has now arrived off the coast of Gaza to support the construction of an 1,800-foot pier, along with a floating RoRo facility situated about three miles off the coast.
Cardigan Bay is the command ship and will provide accommodation for several hundred US Army personnel involved in the aid effort.