USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) completed Transport Exercise (TRANSPORTEX) 2007 with the Japanese Ship (JS) Ohsumi (LST 4001) off the coast of Japan on March 7. TRANSPORTEX was a training exercise designed to enhance the maritime transport proficiency and interoperability of the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) in support of humanitarian relief missions. “In the past 15 years, amphibious forces have been the first responders in numerous humanitarian crises, disaster relief missions, noncombatant evacuation operations, troop withdrawals, and defense of strategic assets such as oil platforms and seaports,” said Harpers Ferry’s Commanding Officer Cmdr. David L. Bossert. “TRANSPORTEX allowed U.S.