MPF 15-1

Beach and Port Operations

Capt Erin Berard, USMC

Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Pacific
USMC Expeditionary Logistics Branch, N571
DSN 577-2606, Commercial (619) 437-2606
erin.berard@navy.mil
 Overview

• Beach Operations
– Planning factors affecting beach selection
– Beach Operations Group (BOG) task organization
– BOG equipment requirements
• Port Operations
– Planning Considerations
– Organization and tasks of the Port Operations
Groups (POG)
– Potential limitations of a port offload
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Lesson Purpose
• To provide the student
with information
concerning beach and
port operations during
the Arrival and Assembly
Phase of an MPF
operation.

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 References

• MCWP 3-32/NWP 3-02.3, Maritime

Prepositioning Force Operations

• MCWP 4-11.3, Transportation

Operations

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 Introduction
Instream vs. Port
• Instream Operations
– Offload 5-7 days
– Rolling Stock 3-5 days
• Port Operations
– Offload 3-5 days
– Rolling Stock 18 hours

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 Introduction

• Instream offload
– May be the only means of bringing MPE/S
ashore - or
– May be used simultaneously with port
operations to increase the overall rate of
discharge
• Facilities cannot accommodate entire
MPSRON
• Urban congestion reduces throughput
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Beach Operations

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 Factors Affecting Beach
Area Selection
• Hydrography Overview
– Beach length
– Beach configuration
– Beach interruptions and obstacles
– Surf characteristics
– Inshore currents
– Tidal ranges and times
– Nearshore and foreshore
– Beach gradients

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Beach Length &
Configuration
2-3
m iles
wid
lL i n e e
Fue Dr
iving
lan
es

RED BEACH MPF-15 9

 RED BEACH OVERLAY
• Similar to Amphibious offload
– 1 MPSRON across a Colored beach
– Separated into 4 segments (numbered beaches)

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MPF-15 11
Omaha Beach, France

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 Surf Characteristics

• Plunging Breakers - transition

• Spilling Breakers - preferred
• Surging Breakers - most difficult

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Plunging Breaker

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Spilling Breaker

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Surging Breaker

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MPF-15 17
 Inshore Currents

●
Rip Current
Incoming Tide

Rip Current
Incoming Tide

Low Pressure
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10/01/03
 Hanging UP

Broaching
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 Tide
Changing Beach Depth

High Tide

Changing Gradient
Low Tide

Changing Surf Zone Width

10/01/03

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 Beach Gradient

• Nearshore vs. Foreshore

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 Underwater Gradients

• The underwater gradient is the

bottom slope (Rise to Run):
– Steep Gradient 1:15 or More
– Moderate Gradient 1:15 to 1:30
– Gentle Gradient 1:30 to 1:60
– Mild Gradient 1:60 to 1:120
– Flat Gradient 1:120 or Less
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Lighterage beaching and dry
landing of vehicles reduces
maintenance downtime

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 Factors Affecting Beach
Area Selection
• MPS anchorage close
ashore to minimize
lighterage travel and
bulk liquid pumping
distances
– Optimal ship-to-shore
distance is ½ mile

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 Factors Affecting Beach
Area Selection

• Topography
– Backshore slope
– Soil traffic ability
– Sufficient space
– Access to road
and/or rail networks

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MOMAT

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 Meteorology

• Affects of monsoon, rainfall, blowing

snow, sand, ice, fog, etc.
• Available sunlight
• Sea state

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Sea State Conditions
Sea State 0:
Wave Height: 0.1 - 0.15 ft
Wind Speed: 2.5 - 2.8 kts

Sea State 1:
Wave Height: 0.5 - 1.2 ft
Wind Speed: 5.1 - 8.0 kts

Sea State 2:
Wave Height: 1.5 - 3.0 ft
Wind Speed: 5.0 - 12.7 kts
--LIMIT OF CAPABILITY--

Sea State 3:
Wave Height: 3.5 - 5.0 ft
Wind Speed: 13.7 - 16.4 kts

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Ideal Conditions

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 Show Stopper

• Sea State 3 has world wide impact

• In some Combatant Commanders AOR

Sea State 3 exists up to 50% of the time
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QUESTIONS?

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 Beach Operations Group
(BOG)
• Task Organization
– Size and composition are situation
dependent
– Organized to carry out 24 hour operations
– Nucleus comes from the MAGTF LCE
– Works closely with the NSE Beach Party
Team (BPT)

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 Instream Offload
Organization

LCE NSE

AAOG
TACON
LFSP OCO OCU
TACON

DEBARK
OFFICER

BOG
BEACH LIGHTERAGE
PARTY
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 Beach Operations Group
(BOG)
• Configured to accomplish:
– Vehicle and container sorting
– Loading and transport of MPE/S
– Recovery of empty containers
– Follow-on resupply operations

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 Beach Operations Group
(BOG)
• Internal Services:
– C4I
– Data Processing
– Medical
– Organic Supply
– Maintenance
– Engineer
– Traffic Circulation
– Local Security
– Surf Report
– Messing and Billeting

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 Beach Operations Group
(BOG)
• Equipment Requirements:
– Beach Markers
– Communications
– MOMAT
– Earth Moving Equipment
– Rough Terrain Cargo Handler (RTCH)
– 25-ton Crane
– Water Purification and distribution system
– Habitability Sets, Light Sets, Generators
– Computers and Logistics Applications of Marking and
Reading Symbols (LOGMARS) / RFID
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 Beach Support Area
Organization
• Functional Areas:
– Command, control and communications
– Maintenance and organic supply
– Messing and billeting
– Medical

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 Beach Support Area
Organization
• Lighterage and vehicle landing points
• Nearshore boat lanes
• Ammunition and bulk liquid dumps
• MPE/S “frustrated” areas
• Traffic lanes

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Port Operations

Pro vs. Con

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 Port Planning
Considerations
Physical characteristics and
layout of the port
– Road capacity
– Traffic congestion
– Availability of
real estate
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 Port Planning
Considerations
• Number of ships to be simultaneously
offloaded
• Equipment available
• Host Nation support available
• Port Operation Group (POG)
requirements (personnel and equipment)
• DRAFT
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 Port Planning
Considerations
• Transfer of MPE/S directly from the ship
to their final destination

• Fuel and ammunition should not be

held in overflow areas

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Jubayl, S.A., 16 Feb 1991

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 Organization for Port
Operations
• Port Authority
– Responsibility assumed by the
Commander, MPF (CMPF) when the host
nation port authority is no longer
functioning

– When functioning CMPF will designate a

port liaison officer

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 Organization for Port
Operations
• Port Authority Liaison Officer
responsibilities
– Provides coordination between the
MPSRON and the Port Authority
– Advises the Port Authority of cargo
characteristics and offload requirements
which may affect port activities
– Arranges for Host Nation support
requirements (What type of support?)
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 Host Nation Support
Requirements
• Environmental data • Tugboats and pilot
• Navigational aids services
• Harbor information • Firefighting services
• Berths and • Pierside services
anchorages • Harbor security

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 Port Operations Group
(POG)
• Task organized around a nucleus from the
MAGTF LCE
• Responsible for the preparation of the port
prior to arrival of the MPS and the throughput
of the MPE/S as they are offloaded
• Operate under the overall direction of the
LFSP and in coordination with the Ship
Debarkation Officer

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 Pierside Offload
Organization
LCE NSE

AAOG

LFSP OCU
DEBARK
OFFICER

POG POG
CARGO LIGHTERAGE
HANDLERS

DEBARK HATCH
TEAMS TEAMS

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 Port Operations Group
(POG)
• Organized for around the clock
operations

• May be retained after arrival and

assembly in order to offload resupply
shipping and retrograde damaged
equipment

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 Major Tasks of the POG

• Establishes overflow areas for MPE/S

• Clears piers and overflow areas of MPE/S
• Establishes a port operations Command Post
and communications with the LFSP, OCU
and Ship Debarkation Officer
• Coordinates with the Port Authority Liaison
Officer for use of:
– Material Handling Equipment (MHE)
– Operations and longshoreman support
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 Major Task of the POG

• Operates MHE, lighting, etc.

• Assist Navy Cargo Handling Detachments in
ship offload as directed
• Transport MPE/S to overflow areas as
necessary
• Provide directions to MAGTF drivers (surge
drivers) detailed to move vehicles to
intermediate staging areas or Movement
Control Center (MCC)
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 Major Task of the POG

• Provide local security when assisted by

MAGTF augmentation
• Enable bulk/fuel/water reception and transfer
facilities
• Provide support for the POG including:
– Billeting, Messing, Administration
• Be prepared to continue port operations for
Follow On Shipping (FOS)

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 RECAP

Pros Vs. Cons of PORT OPs

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 Advantages of Port
Operations
• Increased throughput and assembly
• Reduced personnel requirements
• Reduced potential for loss or damage of
MPE/S
• Less susceptible to the effects of sea
state and weather

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 Potential Limitation of Port
Operations
• Increased complexity of operations
when dealing with a Host Nation
• Increased likelihood of ammunition,
POL, and hazardous cargo handling
and transportation restrictions
• Port congestion
• Priority to civilian shipping traffic

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 Potential Limitation of Port
Operations
• Labor union requirements

• Increased security requirements

• Deployment to a port large enough to

accommodate five and six MPS is
unlikely
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 Overlay Symbols
CE
POG
ATOC
BOG

See Attachment A, Student Guide

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 Overlay Symbols

Class I Class III- Class V-

POL
Ammunition

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 Overlay Symbols

Water Parking

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 Overlay Symbols

Traffic Control Hospital /

Aid Station

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 Overlay Symbols

Maintenance Helicopter Landing

Site

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 RED
*LOT
COT
BEACH
AAA LCE UAA
OVERLAY *ASP
*COT
UA E

UAA
LC
A

CE UAA
* GCE UAA

Tracked veh BOG

Wheeled veh BPT
Holding Area
Holding Area ½ mi
RED 1 Container
RED 4
RED 2 Staging Area

½ mi RED 3
MSR
½ mi
MPF-15 ASR63
Off limits rd
 Summary

• Strive for maximum throughput using port or

combination of beach and port operations
• Various factors affecting selection of each
• BOG and POG must coordinate with Navy
counterparts
• Close coordination with Host Nation
necessary

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Questions

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