CJLOTS Team connects pipeline at Anmyeon Beach, Republic of Korea

By Sgt. Maricris McLaneAugust 19, 2015

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1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo vehicle and a 50,000 gallon collapsible bag of water support Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore 2015, July 3, 2015, Anmyeon Beach, Republic of Korea. CJLOTS 2015 is an exercise designed to train U.S. and ROK s... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Sgt. Wycliffe Rotich, water supply specialist with 348th Quartermaster Company, 194th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 501st Sustainment Brigade, prepares a water hose for a 50,000 gallon bag of water during Combined Joint Logistics Over-th... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Water supply specialists with 348 Quartermaster Company, 194th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 501st Sustainment Brigade, prepares a 50,000 gallon collapsible bag of water to receive water supply from USNS Vice Adm. K. R. Wheeler (T-AG 5001) du... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – USNS Vice Adm. K. R. Wheeler (T-AG 5001) pumps water to an Inland Petroleum Distribution System during Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore 2015 exercise, July 3, 2015 at Anmyeon Beach, Republic of Korea. CJLOTS 2015 is an exercise designed to tra... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Water supply specialist with 348th Quartermaster Company, 194th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 501st Sustainment Brigade, tests a sample of water pumped to the shore from USNS Vice Adm. K. R. Wheeler (T-AG 5001) for cleanliness during the Comb... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Army Sgt. Maricris C. McLane

Public Affairs Sergeant

ANMYEON BEACH, South Korea - United States and Republic of Korea forces successfully connected and tested a 3.2 kilometer (2 mile) long temporary fuel transfer pipeline from a U.S. Naval vessel to the Anmyeon Beach on the west coast of the Republic of Korea July 1-3, 2015 as part of the Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore 2015 exercise.

This is the first successful connection of the pipeline on Korea's west coast, due to the challenges of significant tidal fluctuations, or changes in water levels of up to 8 vertical meters (29 feet), in a busy coastal area.

"This expeditionary capability can be used worldwide for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief operations, contingencies or crisis response," said Navy Cmdr. Erik Palin, Naval Liaison Officer for Military Sealift Command Korea. "This success validates the capability for a rapid supply of water or petroleum from sea to shore in times of need."

A large part of any logistical support is the movement of liquid cargo.

"Typically, diesel, JP8, JP5 are the products we deliver," said Rick Bower, Senior Mission Specialist of OPDS. "It's whatever the customers use or require."

The formal name of the system tested was the Offshore Petroleum Discharge System, but during CJLOTS 2015, potable water is delivered from the USNS Vice Adm. K. R. Wheeler (T-AG 5001) to a collapsible bag that acts as a tank on shore.

Palin explained that the Wheeler is anchored approximately two miles away from the shore, and the Wheeler's work boat, the USNS Fast Tempo, first needed to pull the pipeline closer to the coast. Then a lightweight shot line was sent to a Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo craft on shore and with the use of dozers the pipe was pulled ashore.

"As soon as the pipeline reached the shore, we hooked up the pipe to the Beach Termination Unit, which will interface with the Army Inland Petroleum Distribution System to allow the product to be pumped to the warfighter," told Bower.

The system is now capable of supplying water to be used by exercise participants.

"The system is designed to deliver 1.7 million gallons of product," said Bower. "What we did here is we took another step to show that we not only deliver in a standard environment, but we now show them that in this extended mud flat type of situation, we can deliver product anywhere in the world."