MSC Ships Complete Logistics Support During RIMPAC 2026

PEARL HARBOR — Military Sealift Command (MSC) Combat Logistics Force (CLF) ships have concluded their support for Rim of the Pacific 2026, the world's largest international maritime exercise.

Since mid-June, the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200) and dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11) delivered nearly 8 million gallons of diesel marine fuel, more than 2 million gallons of JP-5 aviation fuel, and over 600 pallets of food, dry stores, mechanical parts and mail to 36 participating navies through 76 replenishments-at-sea evolutions.

With limited ability to refuel while in-port, the MSC CLF ships received their own fuel via consolidated cargo operations with the chartered tanker MT Torm Thor, which delivered nearly four million gallons during the exercise. The tanker replenishment events allowed the CLF ships to remain on station, providing logistic services to exercise participants as needed, without delay.
While moving cargo is a day’s work on an MSC CLF ship, the RIMPAC operations tempo is unlike a regular day, where a ship may service one or two ships. During RIMPAC, the CLF ships serviced nine ships a day, with underway replenishments (UNREP) conducted simultaneously on both port and starboard sides.

Recognizing potential communication barriers when working with foreign crews, MSC personnel proactively built relationships with participating sailors before getting underway.Officials noted that these early personal connections successfully bridged the language gap, ensuring smooth and efficient subsequent replenishment evolutions.

MSC coordinated closely with Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet and Commander, Task Force 173 throughout the exercise. The MSC Representative at Pearl Harbor managed pier space, cargo loadouts and scheduling for the replenishments. Five members of Military Sealift Command Pacific’s (MSCPAC) Headquarters Unit served as watch standers for CTF 173, providing comprehensive planning and coordination for each UNREP conducted during the exercise, including arranging and coordinating rendezvous locations and times for MSCs CLF ships and the MSC chartered tanker. In addition, nine Strategic Sealift Officers (SSO) also participated, with five SSOs supporting CTF-173 operations and four serving as liaisons between military commanders and civilian merchant vessels.

Hosted biennially by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT), and executed by C3F, RIMPAC is a multinational maritime exercise that takes place in and around the Hawaiian Islands. This year marks the 30th iteration of RIMPAC, a series that began in 1971. Thirty-one nations, 36 surface ships, 5 submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 206 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, June 24 to July 31. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2026 is the 30th exercise in the series that began in 1971.