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Corpus
Christi Bay Surge Sealift
 The
Department of Defense maintains a fleet of militarily useful cargo
ships for surge sealift requirements in the event of an emergency
deployment of military forces overseas. During peacetime, these
ships, which are manned at reduced operating levels and layberthed
at government and commercial docks on all three coasts of the United
States. When activated for service, these ships are rapidly moved
to strategic loading ports where they are loaded with equipment
from US Army combat divisions and other supporting forces. Initial
combat units must be loaded quickly under the Army Strategic Mobility
Program guidelines. There are over thirty ships programmed to be
layberthed on the US Gulf Coast by the year 2002. |
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For more information contact Al Speight (alsp8@pocca.com).
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The
Port of Corpus Christi is a strategic deployment seaport for U.S.
military forces. As an enhancement of that role, the Port of Corpus
Christi Authority (PCCA) proposes a partnership between the Port
and the Department of Defense to develop and construct a Surge
Sealift Homeport on Corpus Christi Bay at a port owned site immediately
adjacent to the U.S. Naval Station Ingleside. This location would
enhance force protection of these valuable strategic assets as
well as provide easy access to designated loading docks at the
Port of Corpus Christi and to the open sea. The facility would
serve as a combination layberth site for surge sealift ships and
deployment training center for the deploying units as well as
strategic port operators on the Texas Gulf Coast. Such a facility
would enhance military readiness without any additional cost to
the Department of Defense. 