Beaumont's 596th Group moves flotilla of vessels to Kosovo.

In the largest multi-ship contingency loading since America's entry to Kosovo in mid-1999, the Military Traffic Management Command has moved a task force for overseas service on three separate maritime vessels.

The MV Merlin, MV Project Arabia and MV Skandenborg were loaded April 4-13 by the Deployment Support Command's 596th Transportation Group, Beaumont, Texas.

The ships carried a task force of 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and 3rd Infantry Division, bound for Kosovo peacekeeping duty to Bourgas, Bulgaria.

The mission began routinely--but then soared to a massive movement, said Ken Pendergraft, Chief of Operations.

Eventually, the task force consisted of more than 1,000 pieces of cargo, including wheeled and tracked vehicles, containers, and helicopters--AH-64 Apaches, UH-60 Blackhawks, OH-58 Kiowas, and the huge twin-rotor CH-47 Chinooks.

Because Bourgas is a small port, three vessels replaced a single large ship for the mission.

Challenges abounded for the Texas transporters. All three ships arrived in port later than anticipated--shrinking the time transporters had to load.

"The first ship, the MV Merlin, was smaller and presented unique obstacles, like ramp configurations that made stow planning for all that equipment difficult," said Pendergraft. "We've got excellent planners here, though. They made it work."

Stow planning went into high gear.

"Flexibility is the key," said Ralph Cote, Senior Marine Cargo Specialist. "When one way didn't work, we put our heads together and kept trying until we found a way that did."

Warfighters were considerably impressed.

"To my amazement, they made it all fit," said Capt. John Hall, 3rd Infantry Division Liaison Officer to the port.

Similar comments came from Capt. Tom Fortunato, the Assistant Division Transportation Officer for the 101st.

"Some of the deck heights looked lower than our helicopters," said Fortunato, "but everything went right in."

"Top to bottom, left to right--there sure wasn't much space left over--but then I guess that's what a good stow plan is supposed to do."

A cooperative spirit from the Port of Beaumont assisted the loading.

High winds thwarted the efficiency of shrink-wrapping the helicopters.

"The large, light plastic sheets of material billowed like sails in the wind, making it impossible to get it wrapped around the aircraft," said Chief Warrant Officer Mark Bectel, of the 101st.

"The use of the building was a godsend, plus it allowed our soldiers to carry out their mission in the shade rather than the hot sun."

MTMC transporters faced an unusual twist: the three chartered vessels did not have sufficient space for all the cargo.

Almost 4,000 square feet of cargo remained on the dock when the loading was completed.

Planners had provided incorrect data on space requirements, said Capt. Brian Smith, action officer for the deployment.

"We weren't able to fit every single piece of equipment, but we managed to pare that estimated 4,000 sq. ft. of excess cargo down significantly," said Smith.

"Our excellent planners worked and reworked the stow plans until we were able to fit everything except a wrecker, a five-ton tractor, and two flat-bed trailers.

The four leftover pieces were sent to Houston for shipment to Bulgaria, via Piraeus, Greece, aboard the MV Danniela.

"The cargo will reach its destination at no additional expense to the government," said Smith.

Mission complete.

"It's all in a day's work," said Pendergraft.

Smith agrees.

"The 596th is a world-class team," said Smith. "The cumulative experience here allows for calm, quick, and correct adaptation to any changes that come our way. Our mission will get done."