US and Peru's Marine Infantry soldiers began joint exercises on paramedic services and sea water treatment methods.
US Marines comprise Task Force Koa Moana ['Ocean Warrior' in Hawaiian] 2016, a multilateral training exchange deployed by the US Marine Corps across several Pacific Rim countries.
Operations are being held at Peruvian Marine Corps base in Lima's Ancon district, including 79 US Marine infantrymen and 50 Peruvians.
The US task force arrived on the maritime pre-positioning ship Pililaau, named after a WWII hero. The vessel has a load capacity of up to 300 tons and is scheduled to complete its mission in December this year.
Peru requires this type of training to act in case of natural disasters.
Koa Moana prepares marines to canalize humanitarian aid and contribute to the construction of bridges and modular hospitals, as well as transportation of equipment, Captain Thomas Paul Madeen told Peruvian reporters.
The ship has 1.5 million fuel and over 60,000 water gallons. Thus, the ship can sail around 12,000 miles without refueling, Madeen noted.
The 300-meter-long vessel weighs 162,000 tons and has a ship-to-shore unloading ramp for humanitarian aid vehicles.
Pililaau's sister ship helped deliver humanitarian aid to Haiti earthquake and last year's Typhoon Soudelor victims.
(END) MPM/ART/DHT/MVB
Published: 9/5/2016