Ft. Eustis soldiers leave on Superferry

FORT EUSTIS, Va. - Soldiers from the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command's 689th Rapid Port Opening Element, its 597th Transportation Brigade, and the 7th Sustainment Brigade deployed from Fort Eustis to Haiti Wednesday onboard the commercial Hawaii Superferry, Huakai.

Officials say the speed of the Huakai, which will carry the soldiers along with relief supplies and equipment, will cut the transit time to Haiti by almost half. The vessel is capable of speeds of nearly 40 knots in the open ocean.

The Huakai was originally built for use in Hawaii to transport passengers between the islands of Oahu and Maui. The vessel is now owned by the Maritime Administration. For this mission, it is under control of the Military Sealift Command.

"Our top priority is to bring organized, safe and expedited deployment and distribution solutions for critical aid to the people of Haiti," said Army Col. Jeff Helmick, commander of the 597th Transportation Brigade. "We are working with the Military Sealift Command to use Huakai. Having this asset available makes great sense, especially in this case, since we can cut travel time by almost half."

Fifty-four members of 689th Rapid Port Opening Element, along with 70 soldiers from the 7th Sustainment Brigade, deployed on the Huakai.

As the surface piece of U.S. Transportation Command's Joint Task Force - Port Opening, the Rapid Port Opening Elements (RPOE) deploy as part of a joint expeditionary logistics force to establish a port of debarkation and forward distribution node. The RPOEs provide in-transit visibility and conduct clearance and distribution operations. They also receive and transload cargo as an initial-entry port opening force until relieved by - or are integrated into - follow-on sustainment forces.