NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Multiple trucks carrying various cargo loaded up the MV Roy P. Benavidez in Newport News on Friday morning.
“That will eventually be used to form a floating dock to offload the cargo in the Eastern Med,” said Capt. Jamie Murdock, the commodore of the Military Sealift Command.
It’s part of the mission to build a floating dock off the coast of Gaza and provide help to residents in Gaza. Much of the equipment is coming from the U.S. Army.
“Really big floating dock, football field-size that moors up to the ship," Capt. Murdock said. "This big ramp can get lowered down onto the ship and then the rolling stock can roll off onto that dock.”
This loading comes days after soldiers from Joint Base Langley-Eustis left for the Gaza Coast. Much of what they’ll need to form the dock will be on board this ship.
“We should be kind of working jointly once we get over there," said Captain Mary Cloninger with the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary). "Once we get there, we should be established rather quickly to start moving the stuff.”
Capt. Cloninger said soldiers won’t be able to set up the dock until the Benavidez arrives. It will take several more days before the ship heads out to the Eastern Mediterranean.
Officials aren’t sure when the ship will depart. They said that once it leaves, it will take about three weeks to get to their destination.