The Pentagon has completed the construction of a floating pier section as part of a project to provide humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip. The pier will facilitate the delivery of food, medical supplies, and other essential items to the embattled region.
The Pentagon announced the completion of the offshore section of the Trident Pier, which will be connected to the Gaza shore to create a temporary floating pier for humanitarian aid delivery. Despite the completion of both segments of the pier, weather conditions are currently preventing the transportation of the components to their intended location off the coast of Gaza.
Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated during a briefing that construction of the Trident Pier, or causeway, which will be anchored to the Gaza shore, has been finalized. The floating pier section has also been completed, and both components are ready for deployment.
Singh highlighted that the movement of the pier segments towards Gaza has been temporarily halted due to unfavorable sea conditions, including high winds and swells. The components remain at the Port of Ashdod, and the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is awaiting suitable weather to relocate them.
Once operational, the pier will serve as a hub for the delivery of humanitarian assistance by the U.S. military and USAID using support vessels and trucks. The cargo vessel MV Sagamore, currently situated in Cyprus, will transport aid from around the world to the offshore floating pier.
The unloading and distribution of aid will follow a gradual approach, beginning with a limited number of trucks to ensure the system's functionality. Eventually, up to 150 trucks will be available to transport aid into Gaza.
The pier project has faced controversy over its estimated cost, which has nearly doubled the initial estimate of $180 million. According to the Pentagon, the pier will be in operation for a temporary period of three months.
The project aims to provide crucial assistance to the people of Gaza, where humanitarian needs remain pressing. The pier will facilitate the delivery of essential goods, including up to two million meals per day, as estimated by U.S. Central Command.
Pentagon officials emphasized that the movement of the pier segments will proceed as soon as weather and security conditions permit. In partnership with USAID, the U.S. military is committed to delivering humanitarian aid to the embattled region.
