New ships and oil trucks will soon be joining the planes, trains, buses and trucks involved in the massive operation to bring supplies into areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta said today. The announcement comes as the historic airlift operation at the New Orleans Airport continues to evacuate thousands of residents from the region. Secretary Mineta became the first head of the Department of Transportation in history to request the Department of Defense to release vessels in the U.S. Ready Reserve Fleet for service moving supplies and personnel into the region and people out. The Empire State, Sirius, State of Maine, Wright and Diamond State are ready to set sail. The Cape Kennedy and Cape Knox are already in New Orleans.