Azores: MTMC movements assure success of demolition.

MTMC's Azores Detachment unloaded engineering equipment from the MV Strong Patriot that was put to work by soldiers within 24 hours.

Synchronized traffic management created a win-win situation for both the American military and our hosts, Portugal and the Azores Islands.

The end result was the successful dismantling of the 100,000-barrel, U.S. Air Force-owned Cabrito underground oil storage, which had not been in use since 1983. The job was completed in July.

For us, the project began April 23, when 30 engineering vehicles from the 225th Engineer Group, of the Louisiana National Guard, were discharged from the Strong Patriot. While the vessel has a 300-container capacity, the vehicles required about one-third of the space and approximately 10 percent of the dead weight--using a combination of deck space, flat racks and containers.

The Louisiana National Guard soldiers worked six-day weeks for three months to complete the job. The Azores are considered a sub-tropical climate, but the work was often accomplished in rain, fog and high winds.

The project is an example of one of the non-traditional support requirements handled by MTMC.

Planning for the demolition project began back in 1996. The last hurdle, a funding source for the Louisiana National Guard, was confirmed six weeks before the equipment was to move.

Much of the success of the discharge and subsequent loading goes to our customers, members of the Louisiana National Guard. They provided complete cargo data and timely coordination.

We know the Strong Patriot very well. It delivers about 95 percent of the Air Force's Lajes Field Base supplies. The vessel also carries privately owned vehicles, personal property, commissary and post exchange goods to the islands. A reliable schedule, and the support of the Van Ommeren shipping firm, allows the Air Force to cut its routine supplies stockage requirement by more than 10 percent.

When we loaded the equipment July 30 back on the Strong Patriot, we had some of the Louisiana National Guard soldiers help out.

The engineers provided great assistance in identifying sling points and moving equipment. Later, they assisted longshoremen in placing oak planks under the tracked equipment.

The loading of the ship would have taken many hours longer, had it not been for the motivation and assistance of the National Guard members.