Commodore Deidre L. McLay, U.S.N. Captain for the COMPSRON III Prepositioning vessels who was the speaker at the general membership meeting of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce at the Saipan Grand Hotel on Wednesday said that a lot of the sailors spend their free times on Saipan.
“The Marine Corps staffers on the mainland and here in the CNMI have made connections with the local business community over the years,” McLay said.
“The business community continues to benefit from the mariners who are dependent on their services such as the taxi and car rental services, restaurants, bars and others,” she added.
McLay cited as example the ties the mariners have created with the taxicabs.
McLay also said that business establishments that offer free wireless connection are an instant hit for the mariners.
“If you want to touch base with the merchant mariners market, this is one tip for businesses,” she said.
McLay said there will be four or five maritime prepositioning ships on the Saipan waters in the next few months.
She told the chamber membership that the ships are here under the U.S. Prepositioning Program, an essential element in the nation’s military readiness strategy.
McLay said Maritime Prepositioning Squadron Three or MPSRON Three has 10 ships located throughout key ocean areas in the Western Pacific carrying high volumes of military equipment to ensure rapid availability of supplies in the case of a major theater war, a humanitarian relief effort or any other contingency.
The ships are USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, USNS Watson, MV RADM K.R. Wheeler, MV TSGT. John A. Chapman, USNS 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin, USNS Soderman, USNS PFC Dwayne T. Williams, USNS MAJ Stephen W. Pless, USNS Dahl and USNS Charlton.
McLay said these ships which gives the U.S. and her allies the assurance that their service members can respond to any crisis faster than if they are stationed in the mainland.
“The prepositioning ships can leave the port within a 24-hour notice to provide combat support and equipment if needed,” she said.{jcomments off}
