On August 5, MSC
awarded Maersk Line, Limited, of Norfolk, Va., a five year contract that could total $400 million to operate and maintain eight large, medium-speed, RoRo ships that strategically preposition Army equipment in the Indian Ocean near Diego Garcia. MSC’s Propositioning Program has 35 strategically located ships laden with military equipment, supplies and fuel for the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Defense Logistics Agency. Fifteen ships carry combat equipment and sustaining supplies for the U.S. Army, enough to sustain two Army heavy brigades- up to 8,000 personnel- for up to 30 days.