HONOLULU, Hawaii -- The 599th Transportation Brigade provided support for 25th Infantry Division cargo movement to Hawaii Island on July 29.
"25th ID has to move their cargo to the Big Island for Tiger Balm," said John Fisher, chief of the 599th Pacific Sealift Management Office. "They usually move their cargo there using the LSVs [Logistics Support Vessel], so we aren't involved. But because they weren't able to use one of the LSVs this rotation, we were able to help them with the move."
Although the LSV the unit normally uses for cargo movement to Hawaii Island had originally been scheduled to support Pacific Pathways Exercise Orient Shield, it remained in Hawaii and provided additional movement support for Tiger Balm.
On July 19, the 599th booked 25th Infantry Division cargo and equipment destined for Pohakaloa Training Area on Hawaii Island with Young Brothers, Limited, to sail on July 22, Fisher said.
As Tropical Storm Darby approached the island of Hawaii on July 22, the Coast Guard shut down Kawaihae, the port of debarkation for the cargo. They then closed Honolulu Harbor on July 23, said Frank Empeno, Young Brothers booking and logistics superintendent.
Darby did hit the islands with some intensity on July 23 when the cargo would originally have entered the port at Kawaihae.
"This barge is a special booking," said Fisher. "We can't disrupt regular island shipments, so we have to wait for a time when another barge is available again if it gets postponed."
Besides causing a week delay, weather also disrupted the timeliness of the July 30 upload. Cargo that was originally scheduled to start loading at 1 p.m. was delayed until 4:30 p.m.
"The barge got into Maui late and arrived late into Honolulu from Maui, so we got a late start discharging the inbound cargo from Maui and uploading the military cargo for Kawaihae," said Empeno. "Sometimes the weather looks fine from land, but it's not out at sea."
This cargo was from the 25th ID's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Sustainment Brigade, Division Artillery, Cavalry, and Engineers.
"We're going to PTA for our JRTC [Joint Readiness Training Center] validation," said Warrant Officer 1 Sherilyn Mancheno, 25th Infantry Division, 2nd BCT mobility officer. "We'll evaluate all the battalions."
Fleet Logistics Center-Pearl Harbor, which manifests cargo for the move, had personnel on-scene.
"We keep count of everything that goes on board and compare it with the UDL [unit deployment list]," said Frankie Kia, FLC-PH. "We're here to validate accountability of the cargo."
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Derek Bartunek, mobility officer for 25th Infantry Division Artillery, was also on hand for the move.
"I plan to fly to Kona in the morning to meet the equipment," Bartunek said. "I have seven Humvees and two LMTVs [light medium tactical vehicles], plus a trailer and a gator. Once the equipment reaches the port we can drive it off ourselves to go to PTA," Bartunek said.
Barges take about 18 hours to travel from Honolulu to Kawaihae.
"The barge took off right after it finished loading," Empeno said. "It left Honolulu at 9:05 p.m., and it got in to Kawaihae about 2:40 p.m. on Saturday."
Social Sharing