The U.S. military has started moving a pier towards the Gaza coast, a U.S. official said on Wednesday, one of the last steps before the launch of a maritime port promised by President Joe Biden to speed the flow of humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

The U.S. military opted to pre-assemble the maritime pier at Israeli port of Ashdod earlier this month due to weather conditions at the Gaza site where it will now be installed.

Officials hope the pier can be anchored to the coast of Gaza and aid can start flowing in the coming days.

“Earlier today, components of the temporary pier … along with military vessels involved in its construction, began moving from the Port of Ashdod towards Gaza, where it will be anchored to the beach to assist in the delivery of international humanitarian aid,” a U.S. official said.

  • SSTF@lemmy.worldEnglish
    52·
    6 months ago

    Is that normally how long piers of this type and size take for the military?

    • Dasus@lemmy.worldEnglish
      63·
      6 months ago

      This type and size?

      Well what are it’s exact specifications?

      Yes, you’re right in that it’s probably quite a large one, but for military pioneers who’ve got a fire under their arse, a month is a loong time. (Edit I looked at images and it really doesn’t seem that big. Dk.)

      So we can only assume no-one was in such a rush.

      I agree with the earlier guy that this could’ve been managed faster, if there had been will enough to do so.

      The capabilities of military pioneers are quite literally awesome. As in, generating a feel of awe.

      The first Allied bridge across the Rhine- Waterloo Bridge-was constructed by the Royal Engineers, assisted by 173 Pioneer Company, in the record time of 13 hours despite enemy fire and adverse weather. Casualties were light. The building of the Rhine railway bridge and its approaches from Griethausen to Spijk was an important operation. Working with the Sappers, four Pioneer Companies were engaged on its construction and in less than four weeks the bridge, some 2,600 ft in length, was open to traffic.

      https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/the-pioneer-corps-british-army-of-the-rhine-1943-46/

      And that was 80 years ago. Capabilities have improved quite a bit since.

        • Dasus@lemmy.worldEnglish
          53·
          6 months ago

          No. In less than a day. Some say 13 hours other sources 10. Hours. Hours. While in adverse weather conditions and under enemy fire.

          https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryPorn/s/rmorD1eiMv

          https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontoon_bridge

          Id even know why I’m arguing this with someone who’s never talked to or even seen a military pioneer (or “combat engineer” as Americans like calling them.)

          https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/this-bridge-is-one-of-the-most-underrated-engineering-feats-of-wwii/

          And for the more visually minded https://youtu.be/Lq1cbKnDdco?si=M5qSZP0DlYeBkEbT

          They were literally portable bridges that could hold tanks and be set up in a “very big hurry”.

          • SSTF@lemmy.worldEnglish
            71·
            6 months ago

            It says built in 13 hours but usable for traffic in 4 weeks, and I am trying to parse that.

            There was a temporary pontoon bridge then, and then a more permanent bridge for traffic built? I ask because pictures I initially saw were quite larger than the initial bridge, which made me question the within a day time.

            I suppose it depends if the Gaza pier is closer to the first than the second. While the Gaza pier is described as temporary, it seems built to handle high and continuous cargo traffic. I imagine constructing such a platform which is also seaworthy enough to be towed requires more tasks than a single lane pontoon bridge. I also wonder how much of the Gaza pier had to be adapted and customized compared to pre-fabricated bridge segments.

            Given the difference in type of work, and prefabricated material I wonder if 4 weeks is reasonable or not still. An example of similar maritime construction would be useful I suppose.

            • Dasus@lemmy.worldEnglish
              33·
              6 months ago

              Open for traffic as in “now not just for the military, here you go civilians, have at it, no need to go around anymore”.

              It is written pretty weirdly but that’s what I’d say, because those portable bridges definitely don’t take several weeks to set up.

              The point I think he and I are making is that if it was just about the capability of building such a bridge at full speed, it would’ve been ready sooner. Instead there’s probably quite a lot of politics going on.

              • SSTF@lemmy.worldEnglish
                11·
                6 months ago

                I’m aware of the implication. I’m trying to find out if it’s reasonable. Two military projects completed at different speeds is partially compelling, but then I find it less compelling looking at the differences.

                I honestly don’t know if a month to build this project is reasonable or not. I’m poking at reactions to find out.

                • Dasus@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  21·
                  6 months ago

                  Considering the distress in Gaza, I think it should’ve been a bit faster. There’s definitely capability for that, especially from someone like the US military.

                  If this was some completely different sort of situation and US lives were in that sort of danger, I think it would’ve gone up a bit quicker.

                  A month isn’t unreasonably long, but I believe it could’ve been achieved much faster in dire need, and I think there is very dire need indeed.

                  Like if the people making the floating pier were under the same amount of motivation as the people who made the Dunkirk evacuation possible (which means pretty much everyone involved, can’t credit a single party for something like that), I think there would already be a pier.

                  I’m not blaming the US for “taking too long”, I’m just saying I personally believe (and have lots of that belief based on at least some facts) that it could’ve been done faster.