July 21, 2005

Press Release

Two U.S. Navy ships to visit Tallinn

SS PFC EUGENE A. OBREGON and MV PFC DEWAYNE T. WILLIAMS, are currently visiting Tallinn. These ships are large commercial cargo vessels under long-term contract to the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, carrying equipment and supplies to support U.S. Marines in the European theater.

OBREGON and WILLIAMS are making a routine port visit to Estonia for supplies, fuel, and crew rest, following their participation in a combined military exercise in the Baltic Sea called “Baltic Operations 2005,”co-hosted by the United States and Latvia. Overall, 11 NATO and Partnership for Peace nations participated in the exercise. During BALTOPS, OBREGON and WILLIAMS served as platforms for training in maritime interception operations, where naval forces trained in seizing a merchant ship suspected of carrying dangerous or illicit cargo.

OBREGON and WILLIAMS are part of a six-ship squadron called “Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron ONE” (MPSRON ONE) deployed to the waters around Europe and Africa. Prepositioning is the strategic placement of combat equipment and supplies in various parts of the world. The ships carry general military cargo and supplies, including wheeled and tracked vehicles and supply containers. One ship in the squadron carries supplies for the U.S. Air Force. The mission of any prepositioning program is to deploy military equipment quickly in response to a crisis, be it conflict or humanitarian disaster. These ships deployed to the Middle East in early 2003—off-loading their equipment in Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

MPSRON ONE ships have made frequent port visits to Baltic countries in past years. These ships are deployed year-round and have no homeport; they rely on commercial ports throughout Europe to refuel, obtain supplies, and conduct repairs. The Port of Tallinn, as well as the country of Estonia, provide a wide range of services in support of MPSRON ONE through the vessels' use of local agents, ship chandlers, launch services, and contractors for ship repair.

Further details on the MPRSON ONE can be found on the command's webpage: http://www.msc.navy.mil/msceur/

For more information please contact Embassy Media Assistant Mairis Tuisk at tuiskm@state.gov