Military Sealift Command tests biofuels

   Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser, which is currently providing logistical support for U.S. Pacific Fleet’s biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise off Hawaii, will deliver 900,000 gallons of a 50-50 blend of advanced biofuels and traditional petroleum-based fuel today to the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz strike group.
   The fuel delivery is part of the Navy’s Great Green Fleet demonstration, which allows the Navy to test and evaluate the use of biofuels in its operations.
The Kaiser’s biofuel load is a blend of traditional petroleum-based fuel and a mix of waste cooking oil and algae oil.
   The biofuel delivery is part of Kaiser‘s schedule of logistics support to the multinational forces participating in RIMPAC 2012. Kaiser, along with the command’s dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Matthew Perry and replenishment oiler USNS Yukon, will support RIMPAC during the next five weeks of the exercise that lasts through early August. The MSC ships will deliver fuel and supplies to participating ships in a scheduled series of about 180 replenishments at sea.
   Held every two years, RIMPAC 2012 is a multinational maritime exercise that takes place in and around the Hawaiian Islands. Units from Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, Singapore and the United States will participate, along with military personnel from Colombia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Republic of Philippines, Thailand, Tonga and the United Kingdom.
   The Military Sealift Command operates about 110 non-combatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, preposition combat cargo at sea worldwide and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.