Austal High Speed Craft Assist Humanitarian Relief Efforts
The Austal built 101m WestPac Express, which has operated as a high speed theatre support vessel with the Okinawa based Third Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) of the United States Marine Corps for over 10 years, is currently deployed to mainland Japan to provide support for foreign humanitarian assistance operations following the devastating 11 March , 2011 earthquake. Image courtesy of Lance Cpl. Heather N. Choate.
The WestPac Express will deliver a Forward Arming and Refuelling Point (FARP) for use in the assistance operations. A FARP is a temporary facility that allows aircraft to conduct continuous operations without having to return to an established airport to obtain fuel. The vessel will also transport additional supplies, communications equipment and personnel to be used in the relief operations.
Rapid Response
The involvement of the WestPac Express in the Japanese relief efforts is the latest demonstration of large high speed aluminium catamarans assisting with humanitarian support. Recently, the Austal-built vessels Osman Gazi, Orhan Gazi and Maria Dolores were all deployed to assist in the evacuation of foreign citizens from Libya, while in early 2010, Austal-built 113m high speed catamarans, Huakai and Alakai assisted in Haitian relief efforts.
Austal Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Bellamy, commented that both the Japanese and Libyan relief operations have demonstrated the capability of fast craft in enabling a rapid response for humanitarian assistance efforts. “While our thoughts are with those in Japan and Libya during these difficult times, we are thankful that Austal-built vessels were able to contribute to the relief operations, both through the delivery of much needed supplies, and in the case of Libya, the evacuation of thousands of foreign citizens.”
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