JOINT LOGISTICS OVER THE SHORE OPERATIONS

Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS) operations are the unloading of ships without the benefit of fixed port facilities. Container ships, RO/RO ships, break bulk ships, heavy lift ships, and tankers are the most common merchant vessels utilized in JLOTS to transport military cargo. Operational requirements dictate that merchant ship unloading be conducted over unimproved shorelines in Sea State 0 through 3 conditions under adverse environmental conditions. New technology is currently being developed to improve the offshore unloading of the various types of merchant ships normally used in JLOTS operations, but to date technology has not been able to satisfy the Sea State 3 requirement. Several new JLOTS subsystems were recently tested as part of a OSD sponsored joint service test and evaluation program called JLOTS III. Test operations above Sea State 2 were not possible. Lighters, cargo transfer systems, and personnel did not have the capability or training to perform in Sea State 3 as currently required by military doctrine. This paper discusses the current state of affairs of JLOTS technology developments with regard to three questions: (1) is the Sea State 3 requirement still a valid requirement; (2) can existing technology in combination with improved training solve the problem; and (3) can emerging technology provide a better, more cost effective solution in the long run? This paper addresses several emerging JLOTS technology initiatives which, if implemented, could vastly improve JLOTS and make the entire JLOTS system much more affordable.