Damaged Haiti port to open in 2-3 days: U.S. commander

[ProgressiveProfessor]

Source: Reuters

The U.S. military hopes to have Haiti's main port open in two or three days for shipments of emergency relief supplies to earthquake survivors, the American officer in charge of logistics said on Monday.

The Port-au-Prince dock could not receive ships because it was badly damaged by last Tuesday's quake, which submerged the quay and smashed equipment, including the only container crane.

"They have a phenomenal port, which we will get opened in two to three days, and we have a great airfield. My instructions are to move things in as fast as we can," Brigadier General Michael Dana, of the J4 Logistics Directorate, told Reuters.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60H3ZJ20100118

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While much has been made of the undersized airport and who is getting in or not, little has been said about the port. For any kind of recovery, the port has to be operational. The only effective means to transport fuel is by sea, and reportedly shortages are about to hit there.

Article also contains some data about the airfield, locations, and actions/requests by the Haitian government, which some here at DU claim is MIA.

It should be noted that the officer discussing the port is from Logistics. This is a big deal. The complaints about "US Troops" are ignoring that after the ready units and ships already at sea, the US has been sending logistics and transportation, not an armored division or combat marines.

[alsame]

1. Excellent news. nt

[cutlassmama]

2. It's not just the port. The road from the port has a HUGH uneven crack in it

that a vehicle cannot pass. I don't know how they are going to fix that, but it has to be fixed in order for trucks to transport supplies from the port.

[sce56]

4. The Engineers will fix that how do you think they get tanks across rivers and such!

Best use of the military just look at my Avatar got that HSM on Disastour my self, Hurricane Iniki 1992 & Typhoon Omar a few weeks before!

[benh57]

5. Hugh Jackman or Hugh Grant?

And what's he doing in Haiti? Are you blaming the earthquake on him?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Skiploader and some foraged gravel most likely

Add a plate on top if required.

[SsevenN]

3. The only reason...

We are rebuilding the port and roads is so we can invade the country and monopolise the Haitian mango market, don't you guys listen to Hugo?

Seriously the USA is nothing but an International Bully who only dedicates aid if there is a resource to control, and right now our appitite is wet for MANGOS.

[bossy22]

6. I'm wondering if the Army Corp of engineers is going to be involved in this

I havent heard much about them and i would think they would be very useful in haiti right now

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. I would guess they might come later

Right now its the Combat Engineers and the Seabees (presumptively). The Corp of Engineers is actually more about building and maintaining big projects than emergency repairs. Combat Engineers != Corps of Engineers