Yokohama, Japan: MTMC transporters move watercraft to shore storage.

Taking large Army watercraft off prepositioned vessels and storing them ashore is more efficient and economical, say military planners.

That is the essence of the Army watercraft Restructuring Program. As part of making that program a reality, transporters with the 836th Transportation Battalion, Yokohama, Japan, moved 21 vessels ashore at North Dock Pier.

The vessels were discharged in August and September from the Military Sealift Command-contracted vessels Strong Virginian and American Cormorant.

Cost savings and efficiency were the driving forces to download and store the Army's watercraft pier side and ashore.

"The Army decided to reposition the craft ashore in order to make them more strategically responsive to the theater and save the contract cost of the heavy-lift vessels on which they were stored," said Ivor Edwards, Army Material Command site representative.

The 836th executed its single port management and stevedoring services to discharge the 174-foot long LCU-2000 and 74-foot long LCM-8 Class landing crafts, as well as large and small tug boats and parts of a modular causeway system.

"The larger craft are stored in the water alongside the dock, while the smaller craft are lifted ashore on land cradles for maximum storage benefits," said Edwards.

Executing the discharge was no small task, but the 836th's operations personnel had planned for all contingencies and were prepared to take on the massive loads.

Tug boats hauled the watercraft to their final docking locations, and the 836th transporters skillfully used various floating and truck-mounted cranes to discharge vehicles from the vessel.

We even engaged a mammoth 300-ton floating crane to lift the LCM-8s out of the water and onto the pier.

Preparation for the arrival of the watercraft had begun months ahead for the planners and transportation managers at the 836th battalion, who also coordinated automation support for the project and customs clearances for the prepositioning fleet.

Knowledge of single port management and port operations resulted in time and cost savings.

"Negotiations with local stevedore contractors to move the LCMs and tug boats led to cost savings of over $40,000--that is 63 percent less than the original contract price," said Maj. Jacqueline Lett, 836th executive officer.

Team effort made a big difference, said Lt. Col. Darrell Jenkins, 836th commander.

"This operation was truly a joint effort, with diverse organizations playing significant roles," said Jenkins.

A key player in the operation was the Army Material Command's Combat Equipment Battalion, from Hythe, England.

The second key players were troops of the 10th Battalion, the 7th Transportation Group, Fort Eustis, Va.

Additional support came from U.S. Army Japan and the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command.

Tom Brewer Chief, Terminal Operations 836th Transportation Battalion