JLOTS Project

JLOTS Project

News: The United States, as part of the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) project, is planning to construct a floating pier off the coast of Gaza to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.

About:
 Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) is a critical military capability that enables equipment and sustainment supplies to reach specific areas without the benefit of a fixed port facility. 
 It allows U.S. forces to enter a land area from the sea despite insufficient port infrastructure. 
 JLOTS operations involve the joint employment of Army and Navy logistics over-the-shore assets to deploy and sustain a force.

History and usage
 The U.S. military has employed JLOTS in various locations, including Kuwait, Somalia, Haiti, and Central America.
 The project involves constructing temporary piers and other infrastructure to facilitate cargo movement from ships to shore.
 JLOTS enhances interoperability, improves military readiness, and alleviates situational sustainment challenges.

JLOTS in Gaza:
 The floating pier in Gaza will be constructed without any direct US military involvement. Instead, the US will collaborate with Fogbow, a private company led by former military and intelligence personnel.

 Key Components: The project will have two main parts: a floating dock and a pier about 548 meters long with a causeway.
o The Floating Dock: The steel floating dock will be transported by a roll-on, roll-off ship, designed for heavy cargo. While the pier links to the shore, the dock can be positioned up to a kilometer away, preventing aid ships from getting stuck in shallow coastal waters.
o Pier and causeway: After the ship unloads aid on the dock, smaller Logistics Support Vessels (LSVs) will ferry the cargo to the floating pier or jetty connected to the shore. The pier will feature a causeway extension to prevent vehicles transporting aid from getting stuck in soft sand.