Sealift is a term in military logistics refering to the use of cargo ships for the deployment of military assets, such as weaponry, military personnel, and materiel supplies. It may be to complement other means of transport, such as strategic airlifters, to enhance a state's power projection capabilities. A state's sealift capabilities may include civilian-operated ships that normally operate by contract, but which can be chartered or comandeered during times of military necessity to supplement government-owned naval fleets.
Sealift shipping falls into three broad categories: dry cargo ships or freighters, liquid cargo carriers or tankers, and passenger ships. During joint operations, dry cargo ships may transport equipment and supplies required to conduct and sustain the operation; tankers carry fuel; and passenger ships provide troop carrying, noncombatant, or medical evacuation capability.
While some ships may require port facilities to unload their cargo and are slower than their airborne counterparts, their larger hauling capacity allows them to transport heavy armoured forces or bulky supplies that only the largest strategic airlifters (such as the C-5 Galaxy) could normally handle, and in much greater quantities.
See also
References
- This article incorporates public ___domain text from the United States Department of Defense Joint Publication 4-01.2 Sealift Support to Joint Operations (pdf document)
- Sealift - Federation of American Scientists Military Analysis Network
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