MSC Ships Power RIMPAC 2024 with Unmatched Logistics Support

During the four-week-long exercise, the MSC fleet replenishment oiler USNS Pecos (T-AO 197) and the MSC dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11) made significant logistical contributions. They delivered nearly four million gallons of diesel ship fuel (DFM), over one million gallons of JP5 aviation fuel, and 1,256 pallets of essential goods. This included food, mechanical parts, supplies, and mail, supporting the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and various foreign navies through 101 replenishments at sea.

Typically, replenishment at sea (UNREP) operations are routine for MSC CLF ships. However, during RIMPAC, the operations tempo intensifies, often seeing service to up to ten ships a day. Underway replenishments were conducted on both sides of the ships, supporting both U.S. and allied naval vessels.

“Supporting RIMPAC allows us to provide essential UNREP services to numerous allied countries,” noted Capt. Keith Walzak, Pecos’ civil service master. “This helps both us and our allies perform real-time operations that are critical in a wartime scenario. As a duty oiler, our mission spans from San Diego to Pearl Harbor, providing essential services during RIMPAC every day.”

The exercise’s multinational nature fosters unique interactions between the U.S. Navy and participating countries. MSC ships like the Pecos and Washington Chambers faced challenges working with non-English speaking crews. Pre-exercise relationship-building was crucial to smooth operations.

“Communication is one of our biggest hurdles,” shared Nathan Wheeler, Washington Chamber’s civil service Operations Chief. “We found that meet-and-greet sessions while in port, such as those we held with the Republic of Korea’s navy, helped overcome these barriers.”

Due to the closure of the Navy’s fuel terminal at Red Hill, MSC CLF ships relied on consolidated cargo operations (CONSOLs) with two MSC chartered tankers, Overseas Mykonos and Allied Pacific. These tankers supplied over two million gallons of JP5 and DFM distributed through 17 CONSOLs to various vessels, including New Zealand’s HMNZS Aotearoa (A11).

Coordination was key to meeting RIMPAC’s demanding logistics. MSC worked in unison with Commander Third Fleet and Commander Task Force 173. The MSC Representative Pearl Harbor managed food and stores deliveries and coordinated pierside loadouts.

“Participating in RIMPAC provides a platform for nations to share common goals and ideologies,” Walzak added. “Shore events, including the July 4th fireworks, allowed participants to share and celebrate different cultures.”

Involving twenty-nine nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel, RIMPAC was held from June 27 to August 1 around the Hawaiian Islands. As the world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC 2024 continues a biennial tradition, fostering vital cooperative relationships to ensure the safety and security of global sea lanes.